States suffer when deputy governors are disloyal, says Ganduje

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, says deputy governors in Nigeria must ensure loyalty to their principals.

Ganduje spoke on Tuesday at the unveiling of his book titled  ‘Deputising and Governance in Nigeria’, in Abuja.

He said the book, which chronicles his experiences, is one of the defining moments of his life in public service.

“The history of relationships between some governors and their deputies in Nigeria since the the first republic has been that of disloyalty, envy, betrayal, and mistrust,” Ganduje said.

“This should be considered as a matter of national importance, because the resentful relationship is unfavourable to democracy, national peace, stability and development, because when governors clash with their deputies, the state suffers.”

He said in spite of the situation, there were some deputy governors who worked well with their principals.

He said this shows that governors and their deputies could work peacefully toward the development of their people and the nation.

“My decision to embark on this imperatively and auspicious project is to share my first-hand experience in this thought provoking, fascinating and worthwhile journey,” he said.

“The book tells numerous experiences relating to principal and deputy relations in the Nigerian political system, reflecting the successful and evil times, the optimistic and the destructive relationships and their consequences for development, particularly on provision of dividends of democracy.”

Ganduje advised deputy governors to demonstrate convincing capacity to support governors in achieving set goals.

“Also, those deputising should be aware of sycophants and mischief makers who may set up several traps, which if triggered might injure the good relationship with his principal,” he added.

“The deputy should also guard against wrong expectations, unreasonable political and material ambitions.”

Ganduje was deputy to Rabiu Kwankwaso from 1999 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015, after which he succeeded his principal in 2015 and he is set to complete his second tenure as governor on May 29, 2023.

But relations have not been all smooth between Kwankwaso and his successor.

In May 2018, Hafiz Abubakar, Ganduje’s deputy at the time, had resigned amid talks of impeachment and “irreconcilable differences”.

Meanwhile, Ganduje has endorsed Nasiru Gawuna, his current deputy, to become the next governor of the state.