Dilemma of a deputy By Isyaku Dikko

Buhari presenting Osinbajo as Vice

Yar'adu taking Goodluck through

   I know the problems of a deputy because I was once a deputy and later a leader with a controversial deputy. As a deputy or vice, if you work hard people will say you are very ambitious, and if you slow down, they will say you are sabotaging your boss. Unfortunately, many bosses are suspicious of their deputies.
The problems of a deputy are largely associated with personalization of power. Instead of perceiving public office as a privilege to serve, it is perceived as an elevation to a higher social status, where power and authority are personal to the person who occupies an office. This makes the boss suspicious of anybody perceived to

Ekwueme should learn from Shagari By Isyaku Dikko

Former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme

“One of the things that frightened them []Ekwueme’s non-Igbo supporters] was the massive take over of his campaign by not only Igbos but his Anambra Kinsmen. It may not be his fault but this is what happened. So it turned into Igbo presidency even before he []Ekwueme] was elected. And Obasanjo came out categorically to say he’s a Nigerian, not a Yorubaman. And he’d been abused by these UPN/Afenifere characters. And he’d also told them off, in Nigeria and abroad. So he had massive support. So this Ibo politics the Igbo bourgeoisie wanted to use backfired on them. Ekwueme had a very good chance. A lot of people would have said yes, we don’t want these retired generals but they blew it. And they are doing it again.” - Dr Bala Usman (Weekly Trust May 11-17, 2001.)

It is good to learn some lessons from your boss especially when the boss is older and more experienced than you, as is the case between former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, and his boss, former President Shehu Shagari. It is possible that Ekwueme had learnt some lessons from Shagari, but it is apparent that he did not learn the most important lessons. Otherwise,