ABUJA — The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria has been commended for sustaining its annual conferences and governance advocacy, with its consistency described as a reflection of seriousness and commitment to national development.
This was the position of former Kano State Governor and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, when members of the Forum paid him a courtesy visit at his residence in Abuja ahead of the organisation’s annual national conference.
Ganduje said the Forum, comprising experienced former deputy governors, was well positioned to intervene whenever relationships between governors and their deputies deteriorate, irrespective of political party affiliations.
According to him, the experience and moral authority of former deputy governors would command respect from political actors and help prevent avoidable political crises capable of disrupting governance.
‘Deputy Governor’s Office Is Indispensable’
He described the office of the deputy governor as one of the most challenging in Nigeria’s political system, which remains indispensable to effective governance and constitutional succession.
He stressed that deputy governors provide critical support to governors and ensure continuity in government whenever the need arises.
The former Kano governor tasked the Forum to broaden its policy engagement by examining the growing conflicts between outgoing governors and their successors, describing the trend as a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s democracy.
He said future conferences of the Forum should generate practical recommendations on strengthening relationships between political leaders and promoting peaceful democratic transitions.
He encouraged members to continue providing policy advice and governance solutions drawn from their experience in public service, noting that their contributions remain valuable to governments at all levels.
Forum Reaffirms Commitment To Nation-Building
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria said the organisation was committed to fostering national unity, promoting good governance and supporting policies that advance sustainable development.
He said the Forum’s activities were driven by a shared vision of nation-building and strengthened through collaboration with government institutions, academia and development partners.
According to him, the Forum remains non-partisan in its interventions, with its primary allegiance to Nigeria and the collective goal of strengthening leadership, human capital development, agriculture, food security and infrastructure.
The Chairman said the theme of this year’s conference, _“Rethinking Nation Building: Bridging the Leadership-Citizen Disconnect on Orientation, Attitude, Character, Culture and Tradition Towards Sustainable Development,”_ reflects the Forum’s determination to strengthen trust between leaders and citizens.
He urged Nigerians to embrace unity, mutual understanding and collective responsibility, expressing confidence that the country’s development challenges could be overcome through purposeful leadership and national cooperation.
