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 demonstration of commitment to national development.
The commendation came from 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 Abuja residence ahead of the organisation’s annual national conference.
Ganduje said the Forum, made up of experienced former deputy governors, is well positioned to intervene in strained relationships between governors and their deputies, regardless of political affiliations. According to him, the experience and moral authority of its members can help prevent avoidable political crises that could undermine governance.
He 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 vital support to governors and ensure continuity in government whenever the need arises.
The former governor also urged the Forum to expand its policy engagement by addressing the growing conflicts between outgoing governors and their successors, describing the trend as a recurring challenge to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He called on future conferences of the Forum to produce practical recommendations aimed at 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 such contributions remain valuable to governments at all levels.
Earlier, Chairman of the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria (FFDGN), Dr. Chris Akomas, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting national unity, good governance and policies that support sustainable development.
He explained that 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 remains non-partisan, with its primary allegiance to Nigeria and the collective goal of strengthening 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,” underscores the Forum’s determination to rebuild trust between leaders and citizens.
He urged Nigerians to embrace unity, mutual understanding and collective responsibility, expressing confidence that the nation’s development challenges can be overcome through purposeful leadership and national cooperation.
