At Book Launch, Ganduje Preaches Deputy Governors’ Loyalty To Their Principals

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, has urged Deputy Governors to ensure absolute loyalty to their principals in order to survive numerous traps by mischief makers and prevent unnecessary frictions.

Ganduje made this known at the unveiling of his book: Deputising and Governance in Nigeria” on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the book, which chronicled his experience in the Nigerian project, was 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 First Republic has been that of disloyalty, envy, betrayal, and mistrust,” Ganduje said.

He said that this has over the years divided several states and negatively affected the development of the people who voted the pair into office.

“This should be considered as a matter of national importance, because the resentful relationship is unfavorable to democracy, national peace, stability and development.

“Because when governors clash with their deputies, the state suffers,” Ganduje said.

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

This, he said gave a hope that governors and their deputies could work peacefully toward the development of their people and the nation at large.

This, he said, could be done by sticking to the constitutional provisions that clearly stipulated how the duo can work together.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Ganduje advised deputy governors to develop an absolute loyalty at all times to their principals and to practically demonstrate convincing capacity to support the governor in achieving set goals of his administration.

“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.