Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba attributes the reluctance of presidents and governors to hand over power to their proxies to deep-seated mistrust and suspicion.
He made these observations at the third annual meeting of the Nigeria Former Lieutenant Governors Forum in Abuja, where discussions centered on governance challenges.
The theme of the event was “Strategic Solutions for Good Governance, Food Security and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria”.
Mr. Osoba said the trend of leaders withholding power from their members was unfortunate, adding that this was not a phenomenon limited to Nigeria or Africa, but a global one.
He made his point by referring to the strained relationship between former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton.
Mr. Osoba said Mr. Gore distanced himself from Mr. Clinton during his presidential campaign, fearing that any association with her could hurt his chances.
“It’s very unfortunate. It’s not just happening in Africa, it’s happening all over the world. You remember the case with Al Gore and Bill Clinton. However, he did not involve Mr. Clinton in the campaign because he thought he could be a liability.
“So this problem is not limited to Nigeria. It is unusual for a vice president to succeed his boss. But there are still opportunities for such people in this country. As I said earlier, And what we saw at this conference is that we have young leaders who are passionate about Nigeria, which gives us confidence that one day one of them will emerge as president of this country. ,” Osoba said. .
The former governor also lamented the repeated pattern of governors planning or sponsoring the impeachment of members of Congress.
Asked whether the constitution could be amended to protect MPs from such acts, Osoba said amending the law would have little effect.
He explained that if the Legislature sides with the governor, there is little to prevent a deputy from being removed from office.
“Again, the Constitution cannot be amended against the governor using his influence and authority to impeach members. There is nothing anyone can do about it. If it’s friendly, the governor can try anything, including impeaching his deputy.
“What we need to continue to promote is for leaders to build relationships. It’s not about the law, it’s about the relationships. As they say, you wash your hands both left and right. By working together,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, also addressed the issue while acknowledging its sensitive nature.
Mr. Ganduje tempered the debate by joking that even the all-powerful God did not choose agency at creation, highlighting the controversial nature of the concept of agency.
He said that while leaders may be reluctant to discuss the issue openly, continued support could prompt lawmakers to consider reviewing the constitution to strengthen the positions of lieutenant governor and vice president. He added that there is.
“Whether you’re the lieutenant governor or the vice president, the concept of representation is the same.This concept is very controversial.
“Even in theology, due to its controversial nature, God has no representatives. God has declared that all men, including prophets, are servants. So it remains a matter of no-go areas.” is.
“But the leader does not determine the continuity of the job. A leader can get sick at any time, and someone needs to steer the ship. When a leader dies, there should be someone to take over. No one can do it alone.
“The difference between a governor and a lieutenant is not biological. It is not because one is born to be governor and the other is born to be deputy.
“I think this is an issue that will continue to be debated until there is a review of the constitution, and perhaps certain provisions in favor of the lieutenant governor could be added,” Ganduje said.