Former Kano State Governor and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has commended the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria for sustaining its annual conferences and governance advocacy, describing its consistency as a demonstration of commitment to national development.
Ganduje made the remarks when members of the Forum paid him a courtesy visit at his Abuja residence ahead of the organisation’s annual national conference.
He said the Forum, made up of experienced former deputy governors, was well positioned to mediate whenever relationships between governors and their deputies break down, regardless of political party affiliation.
According to him, the experience and moral authority of former deputy governors place them in a unique position to intervene in political disputes and help prevent crises capable of disrupting governance.
Ganduje described the office of the deputy governor as one of the most demanding in Nigeria’s political system, stressing that it remains indispensable to effective governance and constitutional succession.
He noted that deputy governors provide critical support to governors and ensure continuity in government whenever the need arises.
The former Kano governor also urged the Forum to broaden its policy engagement by examining the recurring conflicts between outgoing governors and their successors, describing the trend as a major challenge to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He called on the Forum to use future conferences to develop practical recommendations for strengthening relationships among political leaders and promoting peaceful democratic transitions.
Ganduje further encouraged members to continue offering policy advice and governance solutions based on their wealth of public service experience, noting that their contributions remain valuable to governments at all levels.
Earlier, Chairman of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria, Chief Chris Akomas, said the organisation remained committed to promoting national unity, good governance and policies that support sustainable development.
He said the Forum’s activities are guided by a shared vision of nation-building and strengthened through collaboration with government institutions, academia and development partners.
Akomas stressed that the Forum is non-partisan in its interventions, with its primary commitment being to Nigeria and the advancement of leadership, human capital development, agriculture, food security and infrastructure.
He 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 resolve to rebuild trust between leaders and citizens.
The Forum chairman 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.
