I Have Been More Fortunate Than Others In My Relationship With Buhari – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has come out to say he has been more fortunate than others in his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, political officeholders and their deputies often develop a frosty relationship, but his relationship with Buhari can be described as ideal and exemplary.

Naija News reports that the VP, who disclosed the status of his relationship with his principal spoke at the public presentation of the Kano state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje‘s book in Abuja.

Osinbajo noted that the storyline of the book titled ‘Deputising and governance in Nigeria’ depicts that ‘despite the put-downs of the office, political office is about the lives of millions of people not just about the prestige of office.’

While commending Ganduje for such a great piece, Osinbajo pointed out that for him he has been “more fortunate than others in my relationship with my principal, Mr President.”

He recalled that “When he (President Buhari) was leaving on medical leave, the second time, there were a few things that were outstanding to send to him, and he said, ‘I don’t want you to send me anything, it is your job now, just make sure you do a good job.’”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was also at the book presentation, said “I also agree with the author that the legal provisions protecting the position of the deputy governor should be strengthened to make the office more functional and secure it from wanton impeachments.

“On the part of the deputy, loyalty, patience, cool-headedness, discipline, capacity and sound judgement are essential qualities for minimizing disagreement, suspicion and friction.”

Meanwhile, Ganduje also noted that he was fortunate too, to have a worthy deputy, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, who has turned deaf ears to agents of mischief around the kano state’s seat of power.

The author observed that aside from him, Osinbajo and Jonathan who had a great relationship with the late Umar Yar’Adua, not many vice presidents and deputy governors were lucky enough to maintain a cordial relationship with their superiors.

The governor added that “I enjoyed working with my principal, the then Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, as his deputy during our two tenures (1999-2003) and (2011-2015) respectively.

“However, the history of relationships between some governors and their deputies in Nigeria since the First Republic has been that of disloyalty, envy, betrayal, mistrust, and ambition, which has over the years divided several states of the federation and negatively affected the development of the people who voted the pair into office.

“Those deputising should be aware of sycophants and mischief makers who may set up several traps, which if triggered might injure the good relationship with his principal; the deputy should also guard against wrong expectations, unreasonable political and material ambitions; and the need to improve the working relationship between the governor and the deputy,” Ganduje noted.