A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Agboola Ajayi says the National Assembly should amend the Constitution and spell out the duties of a deputy governor.
Agboola has advocated for a crucial constitutional amendment by the National Assembly (NASS) to clearly delineate the role of Deputy Governors in Nigeria. This call for clarity underscores the importance of enhancing governance structures for effective administration and accountability within the country.
The strained relationships between governors and their deputies often stem from a complex interplay of power dynamics, personal aspirations, and conflicting priorities. Governors typically view their deputies as potential threats to their authority and may therefore seek to maintain a distance or assert dominance in the relationship. On the other hand, deputies may feel sidelined or undervalued, leading to feelings of resentment and friction within the partnership.
The National Assembly plays a crucial role in delineating the powers and responsibilities of the governor and vice president within the Nigerian Constitution. The office of the governor is primarily responsible for the administration of a state, with powers granted to them by the state constitution and laws. They oversee the execution of state laws, appoint and remove state officials, prepare and implement state budgets, and represent the state in various capacities.
“That is the office, you can only function at the discretion of your principal and he assigns roles to you. If he feels like he does not want to play with you, that’s fine. But I think we should amend that aspect and give them a constitutional role to make them more relevant because it is a joint ticket.”
Since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, the country’s political landscape has been marred by recurring episodes of discord between state governors and their deputies. These conflicts, often manifesting as power struggles and public disagreements, shed light on the complexities of power dynamics and governance structures within the Nigerian political system.
Relationships between governors and their deputies have often assumed frosty dimensions.
Several deputies have fallen out with their principals who often accused them of usurpation. Some deputies are even replaced by the governors before the end of their tenures.
Attempts by some deputy governors to succeed their principals have mostly ended in fractured relationships. The latest example is in Edo State where the House of Assembly impeached Philip Shaibu as deputy governor.
That move was the end of a long battle between Shaibu and his principal Governor Godwin Obaseki in the former’s quest to contest the state’s governorship poll.
He promise to redefine the relationship between governors and their deputies heralds a potential shift in the dynamics of state governance. Historically, the role of deputies has often been seen as secondary to that of governors, with limited powers and influence. Agboola’s pledge suggests a desire to alter this status quo and elevate the position of deputy governor to a more impactful and collaborative role within the state’s leadership structure.
“If become the governor of Ondo State, I am going to do a different thing. Keep my deputy governor busy. Let people see him as part of the government,” the former
“Everywhere crises here and there [between governor and deputy] and we must address that issue.”
“If I am a governor, I will strengthen that office and make it very effective,” he said, dismissing fears of usurpation.
