Today, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara turns 48 years old. It is an uncommon honour and privilege for me to write a tribute for him on this occasion of his 48th birthday, today the 26th December, 2015. I was actually blown away when it occurred to me that in such a small amount of time, the 3rd term returning member and Honorable Speaker of the Federal House of Representative has achieved so much. A quintessential parliamentarian, a refined gentleman, lover of academics and healthy debate, a devoted family man, a leader and lover of Nigeria.
It is a worthy tribute to a man that busted out on the national stage during the leadership crisis that attended the inauguration of the 8th assembly. Since then, he has not failed to impress me with his flawless and impeccable manners and devotion to duty. From my maiden encounter, with him when he went soliciting for votes from fellow parliamentarians till date, he has not failed to impress me as a considerate and highly visionary leader. He was determined even when hurdles where put in his way. He steadily canvassed that the best option for parliamentarians was to pick their own leaders and not be allowed to be “commandeered” to pick an anointed candidate under the pretext of party supremacy. There was no question of doubt, that he was popular with his fellow parliamentarians and what accounts for that, is devotion to duty. Though shy, but very steady!
Williams Shakespeare in The Twelfth Night stated that there are three distinct routes to greatness. According to him, “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”. Well, for Hon Dogara, his industry and unwavering commitment to hard work and diligence have since taken him to the commanding heights of life. It is a rarity to see politicians with strong ethical values-he is one, and only recently at President Muhammadu Buhari 2016 budget presentation, he opined that a budget is considered successfully if only fully implemented.
In the beginning, when he indicated his readiness to throw his hat into the ring by contesting for the coveted post of speakership, a lot of his admirers had fears for him. Certainly not for his ability but the desperation of a contestant, the post was his for the taking because he had been anointed. Fears for Dogara were not misplaced. A man of deep resolve, a clash between him as the favorite of the membership of the house which cut across party lines and an anointed candidate was inevitable. He pulled a stunner. He won and if anybody thought that was the end of the story, they were mistaken. The defeated opponent would have none of that. Indeed, but for his restraint and maturity of Dogara, the initial storm was capable of sweeping a weakling out of office. His readiness to accord incredible respect to all who were for and against him was a sign that he was the right choice to steer the House to greater grounds. In spite of the initial storm, he has moved on with remarkable speed to consolidate and unveil his legislative agenda.
The basic lesson which I took away from that episode was that self-restraint is vital in leadership and Dogara was well suited for the task at hand. It is my fervent hope that he would not just limit his influence to the hallowed grounds of the House but rather further beyond. There are many important milestones in his life. The cumulative tend more to the positive. A life committed to the pursuit of the common good of all, irrespective of creed, region and ethnicity. He is a foremost Nigeria at heart, he sees and treats everybody as human first. A social democrat whose religion is for the advancement and betterment of all peoples-he has influenced lots of government intervention and has personally intervened in the lots of his people.
Indeed, Dogara is unusual. His understanding of life is evidenced in the fact that he places great premium on the nurturing of the spirit and excellence of the mind above mundane consideration or pursuits. Most importantly, he thrives in integrity and faith in God spiced with a burning desire to see the best for his people. That is the philosophy driving his involvement and engagement in politics.
His life has been distinguished by extraordinary courage and devotion to building a greater Nigeria, where justice, peace, fairness and harmony shall reign supreme. He is a voracious reader and espouses principles that tallied with his convictions that evil thrive when left unchallenged and that there was no need to fear or to apologize for fighting to remove it. The trajectory is a confirmation that hard work pays.
Fastidious, time conscious and a free mixer, it beats one hallow how he joggles his time to meet his diverse responsibilities with ease. Despite his achievements, he remains calm, unassuming and this has made him a reservoir of good treasure and a fountain of goodwill. He is an exemplary leader and we take great pride in him and his actions. Keep up the good works sir and be assured of our continued best wishes.
Rotimi Opeyeoluwa
Abuja.
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