Some governors, deputies become enemies before inauguration – Jonathan

By Adeleye Kunle

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has revealed that some Governors and their deputies fight even before they assume office.

Jonathan spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the launch of a book “Deputising and Governance in Nigeria” by Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The chairman of the occasion said the pairing of governors and running mates should be evaluated to avoid issues before and after selection.

“When we were elected in 1999, in some States, the relationship between the Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect became frosty even before the inauguration.

“To me, I am thinking that the National Assembly should look at it”, the former leader said.

Jonathan urged the National Assembly to look into the rampant impeachment of deputy governors who do not agree with governors.

To address the issue, he suggested that presidential and governorship candidates should contest the party’s ticket at primary.

“For you to qualify to run for the primaries as a governorship candidate, you should run with your deputy, same thing at the federal level,” he said.

The former Bayelsa said if those that would be on the same ticket contested at the primary, there would be less issues afterward.

He further stressed that a good working relationship was critical to a functional democracy and good governance.