APC mulls conference to end rift between Govs, their deputies 

…As Chairman describes Nigerian deputy governor’s office controversial

….Former deputies lament sidelining in party’s decision structure

By Joel Oladele, Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is mulling plans to organise deliberations on finding lasting solution to rift between governors and their deputies.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje made the disclosure, describing the position of Deputy Governor in Nigeria as a controversial one.

Ganduje stated this while hosting the forum of Former Deputy Governors in Nigeria who paid him a congratulatory visit at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

Addressing the forum led by its Chairman and former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chris Akomas, the APC Chairman said Deputy Governors are in most cases pushed to the tight corners and their actions and inactions usually generate negative reactions.

“There is no doubt the position of the Deputy Governor is the most controversial position in governance, not only in Nigeria but all over the world. Except in some nations where some of the governors contest on his own party,  the Deputy Governor can contest in another party and win the election and they work together.

“In Nigeria, it has to be the same ticket. The position of the Deputy Governor as I always say is the most controversial position.  That is why God has no Deputy; everybody is a servant. It is a no go area but we as humans, the constitution has to provide for it as a spare tyre. And we all know the importance of a spare tire. If you don’t need it when you are normal then you will need it when you are in trouble.

“Deputy Governors will have to contend with one issue; the issue of sycophancy. As I always say, it is very easy to get it right as far as his boss is concerned. What I was trying to say was that our position was faced with difficulties.

“When you are walking with a governor, if you are walking so that you are going side by side, so that if he talks to you so that you can hear him, and you talk to him he can hear you, sycophants will say you are rubbish and all that.

“If you are in the front and there is any accident, or dangerous elements, even snakes, and let it bite you first before biting your principal, sycophants will say you have overtaken him. If you respect your principal and you stay behind, let him go front, sycophants will say you are developing a lukewarm attitude. Therefore, you are retreating. Now, tell me which position will you take? It is difficult,” he said.

The former Kano State Governor added that the Party is planning a national conference to address the relationship between the Governors and their Deputies.

“That is why I decided to write a book. Even up till now that problem is still on. In fact, if it persists, we are trying to organise a national conference on the relationship between Governors and their Deputies.

“My book is not dwelling on Governors and Deputies and even including the President and Vice President, considering what happened between Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar. I focused on deputising because in everything you have deputising.

“So, I said deputising and governance in Nigeria. If you are a Chancellor you have Vice Chancellor or Deputy Vice Chancellor. If you are a Managing Director, you will have a Deputy Managing Director. If you are a principal, you have a Vice principal.

“You can see that it is the concept that is important, not the key people that are there,” he said.

Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the forum, Chris Akomas expressed displeasure in the manner at which the party treats Deputy Governors as they are not carried along in the scheme of things in spite of their contribution.

“Our own interest should be protected. If there is a political party where you have made contributions and not carried along when the body takes critical decisions, we still repeat that we take (former deputy governors’ exclusion) as an omission.

“You captured Speakers and Deputy Speakers but leave out people that served and represented the whole State; people who carry structures of a State.

“It is not good neither for the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria nor for the political party or for effective governance. This is because the effectiveness of governance has to do with bringing in cross-fertilisation of ideas.

“As we said, within the Forum of Deputy Governors, there is expertise, experience, knowledge and professionalism. That has to be done across boards,” he claimed.

Akomas added that the sidelining is not limited to only APC as other political parties are also guilty of such, saying  it’s more obvious in APC as it is rooted in the party’s constitution.

“This issue we raised has nothing to do with the National Assembly. I am talking of APC Constitution. It is an omission and we are following it up. We don’t want to give it different meanings. Because it’s not only in the APC that we have this. But it seems to be more pronounced in the ruling party and we want it corrected. It is a simple thing,” Akomas noted.

The forum therefore promised to work with the APC chairman in all areas for the betterment of the Country and in the interest of all Nigerians.