By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has made case for a legal adjustment to assign clear responsibilities, other than the ad hoc functions they perform at the behest of their bosses, to the deputy governors, in order to reduce tension in the administrative process.
Jonathan equally harped on the need for legal provisions protecting the position of the deputy governor to be strengthened to make the office more functional and secure it from wanton impeachments.
The former President said these on Tuesday in Abuja in his remarks at the public presentation of the book, “Deputising and Governance in Nigeria” authored by the Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Jonathan emphasized that a good working relationship and mutual understanding between the deputy governor and the governor as well as the vice president and president is critical towards cultivating a culture of functional democracy and good governance.
The erstwhile President of the country said, “There is also the need for a legal adjustment to assign clear responsibilities, other than the ad hoc functions they perform at the behest of their bosses, to the deputy governors, in order to reduce tension in the administrative process.
“In this regard, I also agree with the author that the legal provisions protecting the position of the deputy governor should be strengthened to make the office more functional and secure it from wanton impeachments.
“Let me end by emphasizing that a good working relationship and mutual understanding between the deputy governor and the governor as well as the vice president and president is critical towards cultivating a culture of functional democracy and good governance”, he said.
Jonathan however pointed out that certain things are crucial for cultivating a cordial relationship between a deputy and his principal.
Those things, according to him, include good personal relationships, accessibility, mutual respect and common focus.
He stressed further that on the part of the deputy, loyalty, patience, cool headedness, discipline, capacity and sound judgement are essential qualities for minimizing disagreement, suspicion and friction.
Continuing, Jonathan said, “I must admit that the issue the book addresses resonates clearly with the experience of Ganduje and myself, with both of us sharing a similar political trajectory of having served as deputy governors at the same time and eventually succeeding our principals as governors.
“In fact, I got the better of Dr. Ganduje in this regard because my own went a notch higher, as I went further to serve as Vice President and eventually became President of our dear country.
“I am glad that Governor Ganduje has been able to document his experience for the benefit of all, especially in a clime where the relationship between elected political leaders and their deputies have not always been very cordial, and where such deputies hardly succeed their principals.
“Having worn both shoes, I believe he is in a better position to identify the pressure and friction points and point the way forward for a harmonious relationship between the principal and the deputy, towards improving our democracy and the lives of our people.
“Governor Ganduje did so much of that by detailing the qualities a deputy governor should possess to earn the trust of his principal and the roles the chief executive should play to be able to cultivate a good working relationship in political leadership.
“I believe public office holders have so much to learn from the narratives in the book, especially drawing from Governor Ganduje’s own personal experience.
“It is important to point out that beyond focusing on the factors that define the relationship between the deputy and the principal in Nigeria and many other countries, the book also examined the political history and trends of governance in our country, from the colonial period to the present”, he said.
