Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba remarked on Tuesday that suspicion and a lack of trust are the main reasons many presidents and governors hesitate to hand over leadership to their deputies.
He shared these insights during the 3rd Annual Conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria in Abuja.
The event, themed “Strategic Solutions for Good Governance, Food Security, and Sustainable Growth in Nigeria,” addressed various governance challenges.
Osoba described this situation as unfortunate, noting that it is a global issue, not limited to Nigeria or Africa.
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He referenced the political tension between former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton as an illustrative example.
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He said, “It is most unfortunate. It is not just in Africa — it happens all over the world. You will recall the case of Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Al Gore was his vice president, and he contested the presidency. But because he thought Clinton might be a liability, he didn’t involve him in his campaign.
“So, this issue is not limited to Nigeria. It is rare to see a deputy succeeding their boss. However, there are still opportunities for such individuals in this country. As I mentioned earlier, the array of leaders who are still young and passionate about Nigeria, even from what we have seen at this conference, gives us confidence that one day, one of them will emerge as the president of this country.”
Osoba expressed concern over the ongoing trend of governors scheming to impeach their deputies.
When questioned about the possibility of amending the constitution to safeguard deputies from their superiors, the politician noted that there wasn’t much that could be done.
“Again, you can’t amend the constitution against governors using their influence and powers to impeach their deputies. There is nothing anybody can do about it. If the State House of Assembly is friendly with the governor, he can attempt anything, including impeaching his deputy.
“What we should continue to promote is for leaders to build relationships. It is not by law but through relationship. As they say, you wash your hands with both the left and right—it’s through cooperation,” he stated.
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