Following the footprints of Tafawa Balewa

December 26th, being a day after Christmas, when Christians all over the globe celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is also the 48th birthday anniversary of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Reps. Born on this day in 1967 in Tafawa Balewa province of Bauchi State, he rose […]

December 26th, being a day after Christmas, when Christians all over the globe celebrated the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is also the 48th birthday anniversary of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Reps. Born on this day in 1967 in Tafawa Balewa province of Bauchi State, he rose from a very humble background in that rural community where Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa came  from. He was first elected into the House of Reps in 2007 from one of the most diverse constituencies in the country. Within the span of eight years, he has been able to win the confidence of all segments of people.
Dogara is a natural leader, whose sterling qualities are exceptional. In his public and private conduct, one thing unique about him is that he is a man of uncommon humility, courage, honesty, and integrity. Close associates and family members would  say that he never struggled for anything in life. While he acknowledges God’s divine favour over his life since childhood, he never took it for granted. A devoted Christian who fears God and does not take that which is not his, he is also a prudent manager of resources.
It takes only a courageous person like Dogara who, from a constituency that was  a stronghold of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and without the support of his governor, defected to then-newly-formed All Progressives Congress (APC). Many friends and associates came down hard on him as a result of that singular, far-sighted decision. However, he remained resolute and would go on to record a landslide victory on March 28. His election as Speaker was not surprising to those of us who have been close  enough. Whether friend or foe, one would have to admit he is an embodiment of leadership.
We are all witnesses to the circumstances that culminated into his historic election as Speaker against the powers that be, even in the face of threats, intimidation and daunting opposition from high places. But for his courage, this feat would never have been achieved. Indeed, his primary motivation for vying for the Speakership, is service and the conviction that the parliament, being the heart, nerve and nucleus of every democracy must never be  allowed to be tied to the apron strings of godfathers.
Whether in public or private, I always  see a man who is in pain, his angst not personal because he is a contented man. His pain stems from the fact that despite being blessed with abundant natural and human resources, Nigeria, our beloved country, has not been able to provide basic social services to its citizens. More specifically, to him, the greatest resources that the almighty God blessed Nigeria with are human resources, but successive governments at all levels have not  been able to harness that.
Dogara would say that the entire history of democracy has been that of struggle between the included and the excluded, the haves and the have-nots. His dream, vision and aspiration is that sooner rather than later, a better Nigeria will emerge where both the haves and the have-nots will have a place that will accommodate them, where a room will be available for all. He strongly believes that a system is evolving where the people will be the true centre of governance and that democracy in Nigeria will soon be able to deliver its promises to the people.
In spite of the minor distractions  after the June 9 election, today the House under Dogara’s leadership is very stable and is at peace with itself as lawmakers are busy working to deliver on the change promised Nigerians.  This would never have been possible but for the magnanimity of the person of Dogara who even after winning an election that was hardest-fought in the history of parliament since 1960, was magnanimous enough to not only name his opponent as the majority leader but also conceded many key positions to those who opposed him the most.
Already, Nigerians have began to see the immense leadership qualities in him as the House has since gone far with its legislative functions and even set record of legislation on December 10 when not fewer than 130 bills were presented for first reading which was unprecedented. Today, over 300 bills have been introduced in the green chamber and are at various stages of legislation. The House is cleaning up Nigeria’s statutes books as some of the nation’s extant laws are 100 years old as bequeathed to us by the British.
A passionate advocate for the rebuilding, reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery of the violence-ravaged North-East region, Dogara also made history as the first-ever Speaker  to on two occasions step down from his seat to move a motion on the floor of the House calling for national and international intervention in the North-East, including a bill seeking to establish the North-East Development Commission, thereby discharging his primary responsibility.
Like him or not, Dogara’s incorruptibility stands him out among his colleagues. This was brought to the fore when he chaired the House Committee on Customs and Excise.  He conducted one of the most extensive and revolutionary investigations in history of the National Assembly which led to the reform of the service. Millions of dollars were offered to him by undesirable and unscrupulous elements who did not want the probe to go on,  but he rejected all and went ahead to conduct the investigation. Indeed, it takes more than courage for anyone to resist temptation in a society where majority of the ruling class are in competition to amass stupendous wealth.
For anyone who knows Dogara, the following best describe him: Humility, intellect, courage and a calm spirit. These same qualities were said of the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of blessed memory and today Dogara is following those very footprints. To this young gentleman, a lawyer of high repute, family man and devoted Christian, I say a happy 48th birthday, with wishes of many happy returns.
Hassan is Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker of the House of Reps.