Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has advocated for specific constitutional roles for deputy governors.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN) with the theme: “Partnering in the shared vision for good governance and sustainable development” in Abuja, Ganduje said assigning constitutional roles to deputy governors would keep them busy.
Represented by APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Ganduje said assigning constitutional roles would prevent unnecessary clashes between governors and their deputies.
“I am happy that you, the deputy governors, have decided to come together and form yourself into a forum and embark on this advocacy.
“As you create awareness, as you meet people and talk to leaders of our country, there is need to constitutionally give roles to the deputy governors,” he said.
Also speaking, former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, advised political leaders to be guided by patriotism in all their endeavours.
He said nothing was wrong with the Nigerian Constitution but the inability to observe it.
“There are some of us who feel that the constitution is an invalid document, it is illegitimate, it is a product of the military. Even if it is a broken-down vehicle, it is the vehicle.
“It is a good constitution; there is nothing wrong with it. However good a constitution is, it is not a self-executing document, it doesn’t enforce itself. It requires good people to enforce it.
“Of course it is not intended to be a perfect document, but this nation must begin to respect the Constitution.
“We must begin to respect the nation’s history and not go on describing it as an artificial creation. As we hear so many people doing. There is no nation that is not artificial. All nations are artificial,” he said.
Agabi, who was the chairman of the occasion, appealed to people in power to come to terms with those who agreed with them.