By Chesa Chesa
Former Deputy Governors now in the the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday appealed to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, to ensure that they are included as statutory members of the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Gathered under the aegis of Forum of Former Deputy Governors, they made their demand when they paid a courtesy call on Ganduje at the APC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on their behalf, Chairman of the Forum, Chris Alozie Akomas, a former Deputy Governor of Abia State, said their expertise and experience can be formally made available to the party with their membership of NEC.
“It bothers us that deputy governors are not members of the NEC with all the experiences we carry as well as our followership. We hope that will be redressed”, he said.
Akomas further declared that “this issue we raised has nothing to do with 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.
“There are other issues though. But as you join us for our national summit in October, you will hear more because we are doing this in collaboration with relevant authorities.
“We have contacted the governors’ forum and also doing our best to collaborate with the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.”
He added that “the Forum is bipartisan, and we remain focused on one thing: the unity and stability of the nation, and above all, the general good.”
In his response, Ganduje, a former Deputy Governor before he became the Governor of Kano State, said he was very much aware of the challenges and difficulties faced by Deputy Governors.
“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 for their own party, the Deputy Governor can contest in another party, win the election, and work together.
“In Nigeria, it has to be the same ticket. The position of Deputy Governor, as I always say, is the most controversial position. That is why God has no Deputy. Everyone is a servant. It is a no-go area.
“But as humans, our constitution has to provide for it as a spare tyre. And we all know the importance of a spare tyre. If you don’t need it when you are normal, then you will need it, when you are in trouble”, he stated.
Ganduje also explained that it is for this reason he was compelled to author a book to open a conversation around the issue and challenges o Deputy Governors, saying the entrenched controversy around the position has helped him to appreciate why God has no deputy.
He said that a national conference to address the perennial crisis between governors and their deputies and deputizing generally would help to improve the relationship between Governors and their deputies with overall benefits for governance.
Among former deputy Governors that visited Ganduje were Muktar Shagari, former deputy governor of Sokoto State; Dame Paulen Tallen, immediate past Minister of Women Affairs and former deputy governor of Plateau State, amongst others.
