The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr Benson Abounu, on Thursday said the assumption of rights was mainly the reason most of his colleagues across the country often fell out of favour with their principals.
He made the remark while answering questions from journalists shortly after his visit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Makurdi as part of his ongoing consultation for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
He said many governors are constantly hunting their deputies to the extent of instigating their impeachment because they do not trust them. He also said some deputies were themselves the cause of the problem as they always believed that they were not given enough recognition or what was due to them.
“I’m not that kind of deputy. It will never happen to me because the only reason deputies fall out with their principals is that they assume rights. And for a deputy governor, you have no rights.
“Look at the Constitution of Nigeria; no rights have been ascribed to the office of a deputy governor. Firstly, the constitution says that in the event your principal is not there – maybe he goes on holiday -then you are to act. Secondly, if he decides to give you an assignment, you carry it out.
“But, what if he decides not to give you any assignment? Has he committed any offence? So if you are a deputy governor and do not assume rights, you would not have any problem with your principal,” he said.
Abounu added that since coming on board with his principal, Governor Samuel Ortom, over six years ago, there had not been any rift between them as he appreciated his boss for giving him a free hand to thrive in the governance of the state.
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