Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has expressed deep concern over the escalating trend of governors orchestrating the impeachment of their deputies.
Speaking at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in Abuja, Osoba highlighted this alarming issue as a significant challenge facing deputy governors in the country.
Osoba’s remarks came during a conference themed “Strategic Solutions for Good Governance, Food Security, and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria.”
He stated, “There is little anybody can do about it. If the State House of Assembly is friendly with the governor, he can attempt anything, including impeaching his deputy.”
The former governor elaborated that this pattern of behavior stems from a lack of trust and cooperation between outgoing leaders and their deputies, which ultimately undermines governance.
“It is not by law but by relationship. Cooperation between leaders is crucial,” Osoba emphasized, advocating for stronger bonds between governors and their deputies to avert such conflicts.
Osoba also touched upon the rarity of deputies successfully succeeding their bosses, noting that opportunities still exist for ambitious leaders.
“The array of young and passionate leaders we see at this conference gives us confidence that one day, one of them will emerge as the president of this country,” he stated.
In a related discourse, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed the complexities associated with the deputy governor’s role.
He compared it to theological debates, stating, “Even in theology, God has no deputy because of its controversial nature. A leader does not determine his continuity in office. If a leader falls sick or dies, someone has to take over.”
Ganduje suggested that ongoing discussions and possibly constitutional reviews could help mitigate some of the challenges faced by deputy governors.
“Maybe certain paragraphs can be included in favor of deputy governors,” he concluded.
