“I would rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not”-
Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara
Rt. Hon. Barrister Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, is 51 years old today.
Today, he has added another eventful year. Another year of service to
God and country. His is a life full of purpose. Indeed, a life of service to
humanity.
The Speaker clocked 50 years last year and for the first time in his
adult life, celebrated his birthday. Last year’s event was not a celebration of
himself but an avenue to renew his commitment to serve humanity, assist the
needy and re-dedicate himself to that noble cause of ‘being our brothers’
keepers’ with the launching of the Yakubu Dogara Foundation.
The man, Dogara, is a natural born leader whose sterling qualities are
exceptional. He is one man who grew steadily through hard work, discipline,
prudence, fear of God, honesty and can best be described as a bastion of hope,
courage, and an epitome of humility to anybody who comes close to him.
The House which he leads has been peaceful and busy discharging it’s
constitutional responsibilities effectively and under his able leadership, has
achieved many firsts.
It has set unprecedented records of achievements in Nigeria’s
legislative and political history since independence in 1960.
Notable among the many salient achievements; 300 Bills have been passed
so far, over 1000 resolutions touching many aspects of our national life
considered and passed, and hundreds of public petitions from ordinary Nigerians
treated and addressed.
Outstanding among these are the North East Development Commission,
Petroluem Industry Governance Bill, Federal Competition & Consumer
Protection Commission Bill, among others.
Though by convention, presiding officers don’t sponsor bill or motions,
Hon Dogara waved it aside and personally sponsored more than 10 Bills and
became the first speaker to sponsor a motion on the floor of the House in
addition to his advocacy on independence of the local government from the claws
of the states.
In the last three and half years, he has continued to offer succour to
millions of Internally Displaced Persons visiting various camps across the
country and used every opportunity to draw the attention of the world to the
plights of the people of the region. Only last week, he reiterated the call for
the convocation of an international donor conference for the reconstruction and
rebuilding of the North East.
His brainchild, the North East Development Commission, though, legally
created, retrogressive forces have been frustrating it’s constitution
one-year-two-months after the Bill was signed into law by Mr. President. The
speaker recently called on the President to constitute the commission so as to
commence the work of rebuilding the violence ravaged region with immediate
effect.
He was the first high ranking public officer to raise the alarm over the
rising spate of insecurity in the country which saw to the deployment of
military in 32 out of 36 states of the federation in a democracy instead of the
Police, an anomaly which he argued, poses great danger and threat to the
survival and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy. Today, because those whose
responsibility it was to act, ignored these warnings, the problem has worsened
and insecurity has engulfed virtually every part of the country.
To his credit, the House also introduced the Sectoral Debate which was
the first of its kind in our legislative history, held special sessions on
urgent national issues, including but not limited to the revival of the
moribund and abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, which saw to the passage
of two Bills in that regard.
Recall, he made history as the first sitting speaker to embark on an
oversight tour when he visited Ajaokuta early in the year. The Ajaokuta
community came out in their numbers to receive Hon Dogara and his entourage
where they rolled out the drums in celebration. But for his effort, Ajaokuta
Steel Company Limited would have been gone by now because unpatriotic and
undesirable elements in the government had already mortgaged it in return for a
morsel.
The legislature, which is the nucleus of democracy, is hardly
appreciated in Nigeria. Many have adduced reasons for this which include
prolonged military rule but primarily it is because the work of the parliament
is intangible and as such many don’t see it but history and posterity will do
justice to the 8th Assembly under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara.
One thing that keeps baffling me about him is his large heartedness. His
spirit of forgiveness and accommodation is outstanding. I have never ever seen
forgiveness at the level at which he does it and many a times, I do wonder,
how?
Sometimes, when he takes a decision to let go or forgive; people around
him would go away murmuring but later, things would happen and then the wisdom
in his decision comes to the fore.
During the Speakership election, those who thought they control the
power of life and death, the power to enthrone and dethrone; the power to give
‘crown’ and allocate positions, the power to whom they wish had vowed that he
will never be the chosen one.
Infact, they rebuffed all efforts and attempts by well-meaning
individuals to negotiate and reach a common ground but God, yes, the Almighty
God, works wonders and He did it on June 9, 2015. Yet, instead of accepting and
surrendering to the will of God, they continued to plot against him but the
same God who neither sleeps nor slumber, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
the one and only God saved and protected him from the snares of fowler and
noisome pestilence all the way.
I can recall that when the party requested that he concede the House
Majority Leader and other principal positions, close associates, friends and
aides alike resisted.
However, it was his conviction that leadership is not a zero sum game
and being the man of peace that he is, who believes in the politics of
give-and-take and consensus building, the speaker obliged the request.
The day he announced the concession on the floor of the House, they were
all sad. It was one singular decision that didn’t go down well with his
supporters but he stood his ground and pleaded with them to sheath their swords
and let peace prevail.
However, despite that concession, those who thought it was their birth
right to be, continued to plot against him. To my knowledge, on at least three
occasions, they plotted and failed woefully, which provided ample opportunity
for their axing but he would not. He forgave and moved on. On one occasion, I
overheard a close ally lamenting that if it were him, he will never let go
because he is not Christ so he won’t forgive. But that is the man, Dogara, for
you and today as they say, it is history.
Humility. Yes, humility is his defining character. Barrister Dogara is
humble to a fault. God-fearing, gentle, peaceful, generous; yet unassuming and
exceptionally intelligent, a natural orator and never pretentious. For anyone
who knows Dogara, these things are easily discernible about his
character-humility, intellect, courage and a calm spirit.
These same qualities were said of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of blessed
memory and today Dogara who comes from the same place as the man who was
referred to as “the golden voice of Africa” is following in his footprints but
he would openly admit that he was no where close to the highly respected
Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister. I have come to learn and appreciate
these qualities and characters and to this lawyer of high repute, erudite
scholar, family man and a devote Christian, I say, happy birthday, Sir.
Hassan is the Special Adviser (Media & Public Affairs) to the Rt.
Hon. Speaker.
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