Let’s build trust between president and his vice

One of our major problems in Nigeria is that a president would come on board with an energetic and sharp vice, but those around the president will block the vice from functioning and even usurp the duties of the vice who would end up being rendered redundant.   Trust issues between president and the vice have […]

One of our major problems in Nigeria is that a president would come on board with an energetic and sharp vice, but those around the president will block the vice from functioning and even usurp the duties of the vice who would end up being rendered redundant.  

Trust issues between president and the vice have always been the problem since the Obasanjo/Atiku administration. I expected that a relatively old president would cede some functions to his energetic and much younger vice. But that’s not the case. 

I hope the next president will work with his vice and give him key responsibilities. Assuming PMB allowed Osinbajo to supervise the petroleum ministry instead of PMB appointing himself, things would have changed.  

On this, I commend Governor El-Rufai for making the office of his deputy functional. Deputy governors in Kaduna aren’t spare tyres. In Kano, during Shekarau’s regime, his then deputy, ATM Gwarzo, was in charge of the water resources ministry, and he did well. This earned him the name Ruwa Baba. 

Halilu Hassan can be reached via [email protected]