By Ayodele Oni
A former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Prof Sonni Tyodern, has suggested clearly specified constitutional roles and functions for the Deputy Governor independent of the Office of the Governor to end crisis between them.
The former Deputy Governor noted that increasing fracas between Governor and his Deputy is unhealthy for Nigeria democratic growth as seen recently in Ondo and Edo States.
Delivering a paper with a theme, “Resilience, A Positive Mindset and Indefatigability as Essential Tools for The Deputy Governor,” in Jos, Prof Tyodern who is also a former Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, said the issue of succession should be handled in more democratic and transparent manner, adding that once, aspirants are given a level playing field, rather than being imposed, Deputy Governors are likely to cooperate and work with their Governors.
He pointed out that Governors should continually bear in mind, that they came into office on the same platform and a joint ticket with their Deputies, they should therefore operate as such and take each other into confidence.
“I believe that the framers of our Constitution provided for the two offices Governor and Deputy Governor because they believed that the two are relevant and necessary for the smooth running of our democracy.
“However, the extent to which the two are increasingly at each other’s throats is ease of concern, as they are becoming irritants to the smooth running of our democracy.
“The source of the friction between the two politicians varies from case to case, but invariably, they revolve round the issue of succession and what revolves round the politics of schedule of duties.
“As a newspaper editorial observed “very few governors assign their deputies supervisory roles over certain government ministries or agencies”, thus rendering them redundant and irrelevant.
“True, the constitution provides a basis of support for the office of the Deputy Governor by making a provision for its establishment. Indeed, as section187 states even the nomination of a gubernatorial candidate is incomplete without an accompanying Deputy.
“The processes of impeachment of a Deputy Governor although mainly a House of Assembly matter, the reality is that it is the Governor that pulls the strings behind the scenes particularly in determining what constitutes the critical issue “gross misconduct, for which the Deputy Governor is usually being charged.
“So much has been made about the issue of loyalty between the Governor and his Deputy to the extent that it is assumed that the decline in the loyalty of the Deputy to his Governor, is the bane of harmonious relationship between the two.
“The issue of loyalty needs to be put in context to be appreciated. More often than not, it is assessed within the context of succession plans, with a Deputy Governor who disagrees with his principal over the issue, particularly when he is interested in succeeding his principal, is seen as a betrayer who has committed sacrilege and to that extent, disloyal to his boss.
“It is usually forgotten that the Deputy Governor is also a politician and entitled to his own political aspiration. From all the above, it is clear that a Deputy Governor is only as relevant as a Governor wants him to be.”
