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Dogara’s two years of legislative activism
On June 9, 2015, the Eighth Assembly was inaugurated with Bauchi-born lawmaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, as 14th Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

In his inaugural speech – the Speaker made a solemn declaration and pledge to wage an unprecedented legislative war on Nigeria’s problems. True to his words, all available statistics and records indicate that the House under his able leadership has broken all previous records set by their predecessors since independence in 1960.

It is important to state that the parliament uses three or four measures to function in a democracy; these include the very act of legislation or law-making, resolutions, oversight and the last one – which is least known and hardly appreciated – is the instrument of public petitions.

Early in the life of the House, Hon. Dogara inaugurated a committee of eminent jurists and legal luminaries, i.e. the statutes or law reform committee, which was charged with the responsibility of reforming the entire gamut of Nigeria’s laws which had previously never been done since we adopted the Statute of General Application in 1800. For 200 years or more, we have been operating British laws without localizing them to the extent that some of Nigeria’s legislations have penalties in Pound Sterling and some even have description of places in England!

The panel worked and turned in more than 300 bills, 130 of which were read in one single day; a feat unprecedented in Nigeria’s legislative history. In total, 1064 bills were introduced, 166 have been passed, 500 are undergoing legislative scrutiny while the remaining are in various stages of the legislative mill. The President has also assented to 27 non-budget related bills, out of which 23 emanated from the House.

This has surpassed records set by all previous assemblies at midterm put together, thanks to Speaker Dogara’s foresight, vision and patriotism.

Instructively, the Eighth Assembly also addressed a total of 610 public petitions from ordinary Nigerians through the committee on public petition. This is one critical and important work of the parliament that is rarely known and hardly appreciated by pundits and critics. The committee meets every day and addresses cases of violation of human rights, illegal termination of appointments and sundry matters. Through this, hundreds of people have gotten back their jobs and had their rights restored. This is the true work and meaning of representation. This record, too, is unprecedented.

The House also carried out landmark investigations on different sectors of the national economy such as oil and gas, procurement, corruption issues, security matters, financial matters, banking matters, AMCON, railway, communication and privatisation, among others. Many more investigations are ongoing, all in accordance with section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution which vests in the parliament, the responsibility of exposing corruption and waste in government.

The House under Speaker Dogara also helped with regular interventions to stabilize the polity. For example, during the fuel price crises, the House reconvened on a Monday to discuss the issue which helped in calling off the industrial action by the labour unions as nerves were calmed.

The Speaker also helped to mediate between the federal government and the Nigeria Medical Association and the National of Association of Resident Doctors during their strikes, thereby averting a major crisis in the health sector.

Again, in these eventful two years, Speaker Dogara introduced an innovation into Nigeria’s legislative history: sectoral debates. Ministers appeared before the House to answer questions relating to their ministries and sectors in an effort to diversify the economy and a Tactical Committee on Economic Recession was set up, in addition to passage of many economic bills and resolutions – which the President acknowledged in his budget speech last December – and also the passage of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, which will help check monopoly and manipulation by multinationals and grow small scale businesses and local entrepreneurs.

Also for the first time in history, budget reforms were implemented with the introduction of a new Budget Process Bill (sponsored by the Speaker) to regulate the timeline for budget activities and put an end to the lingering problem and vicious circle of non-implementation of budgets, which has stifled the execution of developmental projects since 1960. Dogara and his colleagues also collectively resolved and opened the National Assembly’s budget in response to agitation by Nigerians.

The Appropriation Bill is now passed at plenary with full details, as was done in the passage of 2017 budget. Two thirds of committee members also now sign committee budget reports before they can be presented for consideration, and even staunch critics now agree that the budget process has generally been made more transparent and accountable.

The Speaker’s Legislative Initiative on the North East has resulted in the passage of his North East Development Commission Bill, which is awaiting presidential assent. This is in addition to concerted efforts aimed at giving financial and administrative autonomy to local government councils through the constitutional amendment exercise.

Pensioners were also not left out, as it was Hon. Dogara who intervened in resolving non-payment of pensioners for three years. He has also championed efforts to amend the Constitution to remove the age barrier for elective offices with the introduction of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, which will see that even 30 year-olds are eligible to run for Presidency in order to open up the political space and ensure youth inclusion in politics and governance. Before this, the Speaker set another record by hosting student leaders from all public and private Nigerian universities for two days in the National Assembly where he interacted with them and inspired them to strive for greatness.

From introduction of E-Parliament: e-voting, digitalization and archiving which are being perfected, amendment of the Public Procurement Act to increase mobilisation to contractors so as to hasten execution of projects and check the problems of abandoned projects, and the introduction of electronic and diaspora voting in the Electoral Act. Hon. Dogara became the first ever Speaker to personally sponsor seven bills, or even stepped down from chair to sponsor a motion on the “Urgent Need for Resettlement, Reconstruction, Recovery and Rehabilitation of the devastated North East region”.

The House under Speaker Dogara is also at peace with itself, working harmoniously with the Senate and ensuring better Executive-Legislature relationship to ensure good governance because as the Speaker often says, they must not fight in order to work and deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

As he rightly reminded his colleagues exactly two years ago that members of the House are heirs to a long tradition where debates are robustly undertaken and where radicalism flows as an institutional prerogative, the House under Dogara has truly demonstrated that it is the bulwark for the defence of the rights and privileges of the common man, the champion of the rights of the weak and poor and anchor for the wellbeing of the Nigerian people.
- Hassan is Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to Speaker Dogara.
June 13, 2017
Democracy is best form of govt, says Dogara

The place of democracy in stimulating development is central to the thoughts expressed by top government officials to mark today’s Democracy Day.

House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara said lawmakers were committed to strengthening institutions in the fight against corruption.

“We have a president who is determined and who has an uncompromising stance against corruption, and we are building strong institutions that will deal with the hydra-headed monster,” the speaker said in a statement.

Calling for unity, he said “Nigeria represents the best hope of the Black man and that hope cannot be realised in a factionalised state with no unity and with every one trying to fight for self-determination.

“If there’ll be any black nation that will fulfill the destiny of a black man, which is that of greatness, it’s going to come out of a unified Nigeria. I don’t think there’s anything each of these pockets will achieve that will be greater than what a unified Nigeria can achieve.”

“I know there are challenges but these challenges are not peculiar to us. So many countries have had to face these kinds of challenges in their developmental strides.”

He said the government had achieved a lot: “We know that within the two years of this administration, the government has achieved a lot in the area of security. In transportation, we are talking about railways, in agriculture and in diverse fields of our endeavours, a lot has been achieved and a lot need to be done, but we are committed to bringing succour to the common man.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki called for concerted and united effort by all Nigerians to build a strong economy as a means of sustaining the nation’s democracy.

In a statement, Saraki said the real challenge to the sustenance of democracy was the need for a solid economy that would ensure that the citizens enjoy high standard of living and that there was even development across the country.

He urged Nigerians to support the government’s policies aimed at involving the private sector in key sectors of the economy, focusing on locally manufactured goods, encouraging small and medium scale entrepreneurs, developing alternative sources of foreign exchange other than oil, directing attention to commercial agriculture and mining of mineral resources, eliminating smuggling and other activities which can sabotage the economy.

Saraki noted that if the people could rally behind government policies to develop the economy and create a vibrant private sector by eschewing all activities which threaten the stability of the country, then “many of the problems which bedevil the nation’s politics will be eliminated and our democracy will grow from strength to strength”.

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson challenged anti-democratic forces working to truncate democracy to have a rethink, because democracy had come to stay.

According to him, it is no longer fashionable to have a non-democratic society, because democracy remains the best system of government.

Dickson’s comments, according to a statement by Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, added that as a form of government, democracy had evolved to the point that it is checkmating some of the country’s challenges.

He urged critical stakeholders, such as members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations and the media not to abdicate their role of defending and promoting the noble ideals of democracy even in the face of threats.

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Garba Abari, said: “This year’s Democracy Day is symbolic, based on the fact that young Nigerians who were only born when we returned to democratic governance have now turned 18 and have therefore come of age to participate fully in the democratic processes of our nation.

“Therefore, our concern at this time should be to deepen such acceptable societal values and advance such principles of governance that will not only enable our great nation further assert itself as the leader of a free African continent where rights and freedoms are sacrosanct but also ensure that we bequeath to our future generations the best form of governance. Only democracy can guarantee that.”

He urged Nigerians of 18 years and above who do not yet possess a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration to register.

Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) urged Nigerians to continue to actively participate in our democratic practice to grow, nurture and strengthen all the institutions of government.

In a message, he said: “We can only continue to grow our democracy to greater heights like other advanced democracies.”

Adeola said the seeming frictions between the executive and the legislature “is not an aberration” but what is important is that “the two arms must work in the national interest and not for selfish gain”.

May 29, 2017
Saraki, Dogara: Where are their press conferences?

UNLIKE President Donald Trump of the United States who has no presidential bone or cell in his body to fit his vaulting but misplaced political ambition, both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara have grown hesitantly into their roles as top leaders of the National Assembly. Despite massive criticisms and sometimes bad press, they have held down their jobs quite compellingly. Both fought bravely and ferociously to win office, holding as they went along nearly all rules and regulations governing such contests with all the realpolitik contemptuousness they could muster. Dr Saraki won because he dispensed with standard administrative ethics, and he has ruled the senate with an implacable hold of its jugular. Hon Dogara, on the other hand, triumphed more ethically, supported by hardened and menacing backers, but without the subterranean machinations that defined the struggle in the upper chamber.

However, about two years into the job, and despite growing into it as well as they can manage, and holding their offices resolutely, neither has seemed to demonstrate a deep understanding of the gravitas that ordinarily surrounds their positions. Neither has seemed to want to go beyond holding office and fending off rebellion. Given largely the disinterestedness of the presidency in the affairs of the legislature, especially the hobbling intrusion of the president’s health challenges, both principal officers seem set to last very long in office. Rather ironically, their staying power and the chance accretion of authority and gravitas to their image, if not reputation, have combined to widen their appeal in the legislature and weaken the legal and legislative opposition to their reigns.

They are, however, not invincible. They should ennoble the offices they occupy, as much as those offices have in fact ennobled them as bright and perceptive politicians and principal officers. But until Dr Saraki is done with his huge legal encumbrances and the ethical challenge that vitiated the force and appeal of his election in the senate, it is hard to see him ennobling that office. He has played politics with a suavity that is uncommon in the chamber, and he has balanced interests as much as the situation will permit him. In addition, he has incentivised lawmakers and fiercely defended the power and independence of the senate. Yet, despite his seeming brilliance, despite his hold on members, and despite his calculating moves behind the scenes, there is absolutely no ethical or ideational depth to his politics. Indeed, given his business background, much of which paid no attention to his future political prospects, there can be no depth whatsoever.

Hon Dogara may not be enmeshed in an ethical miasma like Dr Saraki — if the Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin challenge to his leadership is discounted — and he has also seemed to run the affairs of the lower chamber with much aplomb. But he too has not displayed the kind of ideological surefootedness the country needs in these desperately barren times. Some of his speeches have soared, and his past actions have not attracted so much revulsion, and he has taken positions on germane issues that prove in retrospect to be sensible. But he has sometimes seemed as if there is a disconnect between his person, which he has done well to camouflage and emits confusing signals, and his actions and positions. In short there is a meretriciousness to his actions and policies, as if he is desperate to please, unlike the more bullish and iconoclastic Dr Saraki.

Except the country can find the judicial muscle to unhorse Dr Saraki, he will hold court in the senate for the next two years. The significantly hobbled Buhari presidency — perhaps more because of the divisions inside Aso Villa — does not mind working with and tolerating a Saraki senate. Dr Saraki himself has enjoyed that division, and on occasions, such as the stalemated confirmation process of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu, he has synergised quite robustly with the powerful secret service. Dr Saraki will continue to have the back of the president, as he showed during a consideration of that disingenuous second medical leave letter written by President Muhammadu Buhari; and both the president and the presidency, seeing him as a counterpoise to certain powerful political interests, will also have his back.

Hon Dogara seems even more likely to survive till the next polls, regardless of his bitter conflict with his governor, Mohammed Abubakar, a lawyer like himself. Not only is he representing his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency for the third time, he is popular in Bauchi State and the House of Representatives. He has also proved a consensus builder, and somewhat an iconoclast, given the way he defied his party to contest for the Speaker’s office and his description of Gov Abubakar as being irrelevant to the needs of Bauchi people.

In the early days of the anti-corruption war, when both the senate president and speaker were regarded as a part of the problem, it had appeared like the electorate favoured the sacking of the National Assembly (NASS). That wish proved to be grandiose, unrealistic and hasty, especially in view of the dictatorial tendency shown by the Buhari presidency. The NASS is more entrenched now than it was last year, and will undoubtedly become much more forceful and active in the years ahead. The country needs a strong but more importantly ethical legislature. Gradually, too, more qualified and ethical candidates will get elected into the legislature if voters show the perceptiveness needed to turn things around and put the right people in office. That transformation will not happen overnight, nor, as other parliaments elsewhere have shown, will corruption, conspiracy and injurious connivance be completely expunged from the business of lawmaking. As everyone knows, the parliament, irrespective of its deficiencies, is the greatest bulwark against absolutism and the erraticism of military adventurers.

The poor health of President Buhari may have complicated the politics of re-election in 2019 and put the country on tenterhooks. But while nothing can be taken for granted, the NASS leadership may consider setting a great but different precedence. The Nigerian constitution borrowed heavily from the American presidential system. It is perhaps time Dr Saraki and Hon Dogara took that borrowing a notch higher by frequently addressing press conferences to expatiate on legislative issues and give the public insights and perspectives into critical executive actions and policies. The chairmen of the NASS media committees cannot do the job as well as the two principal officers. If the president, at a time, recognised the need to have a media chat, but abandoned it because of lack of depth and discipline and democratic convictions, it would not hurt the more modern Dr Saraki and Hon Dogara to consider conducting frequent 30min or one hour press conferences.

Dr Saraki seldom addresses press conferences, except when he can’t avoid a controlled interview, perhaps because he doesn’t trust himself to answer, without gaffes, some of the radical questions newsmen may put to him. What, for instance, would he say if he was asked why he had not stepped down over his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal? He would stammer. Hon Dogara seems more at home answering questions, and does not appear to possess the imperious and irritating habit of flying off the handle when naughty questions are thrown at him. But even he can sometimes fidget. Constant interactions with the press would show the mettle a principal legislative officer is made of, provide insights into the workings of government, humanise the principal officers, and help the country assess the legislature and even empathise with them. It is time they cut the aloofness.

President Buhari is unlikely to have another media chat before 2019. Neither he nor his aides have the appetite to organise one. It was during his first, and of course last, chat that he came across as an unrepentant dictator. He had made up his mind on Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.), the former National Security Adviser’s incarceration regardless of what the law and the constitution say — in effect indicating the matter was personal. He had also made up his mind on Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the detained Shiite leader who is held unlawfully and unconstitutionally without trial, also indicating that he had contempt for the constitution and the tenets of democracy. Rather than allow too many disconcerting things to come out of the media chats, the president and his minders simply axed the programme. For all their atrocious faults, it is unlikely Dr Saraki and Hon Dogara possess that searing dislike for, or suspicion of, democracy. They should seize upon the option of interacting with the press to cultivate the people, show that despite their own weaknesses and failings, and their inability to adequately ennoble their offices, they still possess a modicum of vision needed to help entrench the principles and practice of democracy. Should they initiate this practice, no future principal officer will be able to abolish it. More importantly, the credit will go to them.

May 21, 2017
Why we introduced Zonal Intervention Initiative – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said that the 8th Assembly of the National Assembly introduced the ‘Zonal Intervention Initiative’ partly to redress the economic and infrastructural deficit across the country.

The Speaker disclosed this on Saturday in Kabba, Kogi State, during the commissioning of projects and presentation of empowerment materials by Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.

He called on Nigerians to better appreciate the constitutional duties of the parliament, explaining that misunderstanding of the lawmakers’ role has put the legislature under intense pressure and challenge, not in the least the inundating requests and demands by constituents.

According to him: “Despite the misinterpretation of the roles of the legislature by Nigerians and realising the preponderance of economic and infrastructural deficit across the country, the 8th Assembly of the National Assembly resolved to intervene where and when necessary.

“It is in realisation of this call to national service that many legislators, through the Zonal Intervention Initiative, provide some incentives and projects that are expected to drive economic activities in our various constituencies.

May 21, 2017
Why we introduced zonal intervention initiative – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday said the 8th National Assembly introduced the “zonal intervention initiative” to redress the economic and infrastructural deficit across the country.

The Speaker disclosed this in Kabba, Kogi State, during the commissioning of projects and presentation of empowerment materials by Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency.

He called on Nigerians to better appreciate the constitutional duties of the parliament, saying misunderstanding of the lawmakers’ role has put the legislature under intense pressure and challenge, not in the least inundating requests and demands by constituents.

He said, “Despite the misinterpretation of the roles of the legislature by Nigerians and realizing the preponderance of economic and infrastructural deficit across the country, the 8th National Assembly resolved to intervene where and when necessary.

“It is in realization of this call to national service that many legislators through the zonal intervention initiative provide some incentives and projects that are expected to drive economic activities in our various constituencies.

“Indeed, today’s event is a fulfillment of one of the commitment in the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives which seeks to collaborate with the executive in the human capital, economic and infrastructural development of Nigerians in all the federal constituencies.”

May 20, 2017
30 –year old Nigerians will be eligible for presidency soon – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday said Nigerians within the 30 years age bracket would soon be eligible to vie for the country’s presidency.

He said if the “Not Too Young To Run bill” eventually becomes law, the country would witness a very young president in the near future.

Dogara, who spoke at the Nigerian Youth Parliament in Abuja, said the bill is seeking to lower the age requirements for electives offices to ensure youth inclusion in politics and leadership.

The Speaker said the bill, which seeks to alter sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution, is aimed at reducing the eligibility age for elective offices across board and introduce independent candidacy to the nation’s electoral process.

Dogara said: “It is also my strong view that creativity and innovation are critical elements in engendering economic growth and development. Indeed the world is open for the youths to excel, especially in the area of technological development.

“Nigerian youths can compete strongly in the technological field in the new world economy. We only need better technological education, funding and exposure to best practices.”

“At every opportunity, I have also used my office to promote the potentials of this country in order to attract investment into diverse sectors of the economy through legislative diplomacy promoted with leaders of various countries.

“We have therefore deliberately set up Parliamentary Friendship Groups between Nigeria’s House of Representatives and various countries to promote economic, legislative and political cooperation between our countries.”

May 17, 2017
Sagay kicks as Saraki, Dogara fault Buhari’s anti-graft battle

From some unusual quarters came yesterday a biting criticism of the Federal Government’s anti-corruption war.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the focus of the war should be on prevention rather than punishment.

House Speaker Yakubu Dogara said only strong institutions could ensure a successful anti-graft war.

The National Assembly has been criticised for not doing enough, legally, to fight corruption. Many bills remain unpassed.

Saraki said anti-corruption agents and agencies must be truly independent, stressing that the country was still far from meeting the basic standards of fighting corruption.

But Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) accused the National Assembly of undermining the anti-corruption war.

Saraki and Dogara spoke at the public presentation of a book: Antidotes for corruption – The Nigerian story, written by Senator Dino Melaye, in Abuja. Former First Lady Patience Jonathan was a special guest at the ceremony which was also attended by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Bello Mohammed; Minister of Labour Senator Chris Ngige, among others.

One-time Speaker of the House of Representatives Ghali Umar Na’Abba was chairman.

Saraki said: “I am convinced that we must return to that very basic medical axiom that prevention is better than cure.

“Perhaps, the reason our fight against corruption has met with rather limited success is that we appeared to have favoured punishment over deterrence. The problem with that approach, however, is that the justice system in any democracy is primarily inclined to protect the fundamental rights of citizens. Therefore, it continues to presume every accused as innocent until proven guilty.

“Most often, it is difficult to establish guilt beyond all reasonable doubts as required by our laws. It requires months, if not years of painstaking investigations. It requires highly experienced and technically-sound investigation and forensic officers. It requires anti-corruption agents and agencies that are truly independent and manifestly insulated from political interference and manipulation.

We must admit that we are still far from meeting these standards. Most often, therefore, because our anti-corruption agencies are under pressure to justify their existence and show that they are working, they often tend to prefer the show over the substance.

“However, while the show might provide momentary excitement or even public applause, it does not substitute for a painstaking investigation that can guarantee convictions.

“I reiterate, therefore, that we must review our approaches in favour of building systems that make it a lot more difficult to carry out corrupt acts or to find a safe haven for corruption proceeds within our borders. In doing this, we must continue to strengthen accountability, significantly limit discretion in public spending, and promote greater openness.”

Saraki admitted that the Buhari administration had brought corruption to the front burner.

”The people are demanding more openness, more accountability and more convictions. Those of us in government are also responding, joining the conversation and accepting that the basis of our legitimacy as the government is our manifest accountability to the people.

“We acknowledge that if we want Nigerians to trust their government again, then government at all levels must demonstrate that we are not in office for the pursuit of private gains, but to make our people happier by helping them to meet their legitimate aspirations and achieve a higher quality of life.

“What all these mean is that despite all that we have experienced over the years, Nigeria and Nigerians have not accepted corruption as normal; that we recognise it as a problem; that we are determined to make a break with our past and live by different rules.”

The Senate President added that the National Assembly “changed from a one-line item to a 34-page document that shows details of how we plan to utilise the public funds that we appropriate to ourselves. This is a very significant step forward and we are very proud of it”.

He also promised that the National Assembly would pass the anti-corruption bills before it.

Saraki listed the Whistleblower Protection Bill, “which I am confident will be passed not later than July 2017”; The Proceeds of Crime Bill; The Special Anti-Corruption Court, “which would be done through constitutional amendment” and The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill.

He expressed regret that every time the country talked about corruption, “we tend to focus almost exclusively on high profile political corruption. While these tend to be of high impact and high drama, I suspect that they are not even as debilitating as what is often referred to as systemic corruption. Corruption by middle-level and junior level government officials, who pinch the system and demand gratifications to do their ordinarily routine duties.

“From experience, this form of corruption ultimately turns out to be as grievous as the high-level corruption that readily comes to mind,” Saraki said.

Dogara said: “As a country, we ran into a situation where corruption was becoming the norm, there was this moral cult that we had created that celebrated corruption.

“The motivation was always there for corruption, but now what is important is not just fighting the old corrupt system. Really, if we must make progress, our focus should be to replace the old order that was corrupt with a new order that makes corruption near impossible to take place.

“Corruption, for those who are farmers, is like a tree that grows vigorously. If you end up pruning the trees and not attacking the roots, there is no way you will deal with that thing.

“So, when those who celebrate the successes of the fight against corruption in terms of the high profile investigation, high profile prosecution and even detention, they are missing the point because that is dealing with the symptoms of corruption.

“That is punishing corruption. But how are we developing remedies that we can apply to ensure that the tree dies?”

The speaker gave a likely scenario of future consequences with a recent experience, saying: “Recently, in the labour community, we went for May Day and some of us were nearly held hostage.

“You can’t blame the workers. While they were agitating for their rights, agitating for minimum wage, some of us are talking about living wage.”

May 16, 2017
Dogara hailed in constituency

“To me, today is just like Christmas or Sallah celebration,” said Mariam Garba Bagel, representing Dass constituency in Bauchi State House of Assembly.

“Dogara is the governor we know in this part of the state because we have never felt the presence of the present state here, only that of Dogara. He is the one doing everything for us,” said Iliya Habila of Kwara village in Bogoro local government of the state.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was visiting his home state Bauchi to flag off three federal road projects in his Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency and part of Plateau State. He was also in town to launch some projects he and some of his friends completed. Then came the praises. Even the immediate past governor of the state, Isa Yuguda could not contain his joy.

He said: “Thank God we have our son (Dogara) up there, without which it may not have been possible to do these great works. There is nothing we have to say to him than thank God and to thank him. We also pray that God should continue to lift many of his types that they will continue to come to our rescue in Bauchi State. This is the first major intervention of the Federal Government in the whole of the state in the past 16 years of our democracy.

“I worked here for eight years (as governor) and was all the while dreaming of how I could construct these roads that today the fourth citizen of this country has come to open up and also to open up the environment, which we could not do for years.”

On the visit, Dogara also donated over N3 million on behalf of himself and his friends to patients at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for their medical bills.

He said the hospital gesture was necessary because most of the patients were commoners who found themselves seriously ill at a very difficult time.

He said, “Last year, I had cause to send a team of medical doctors who stayed here for over a week to attend to the health needs and challenges of people. Fortunately, we had patients even from Kano, from Yobe, Gombe, Plateau and other nearby states and thousands of operations were successfully carried out.

“So it is in that spirit that we came here again, realising that health is wealth, it became absolutely necessary for us to pay this visit so that we can also access the facilities here and the working condition.

“I was able to secure some level of funding for this institution and Federal Medical Centre at Azare. I called for their Chief Medical Directors in Abuja, and I handed over the allocation to them. Now it is up to them to decide which critical area they will use the money to intervene and we are waiting for them to finish that so that as soon as possible, the projects will be executed.”

Speaking on the road projects, Dogara said, “The road project from Burga to Sum in Plateau State is not the only road that will be done. We will complete these roads in the next two years. We are flagging off another one from Pankshin to Tapshin to Gambar to Sara and then to Mangu in Plateau State so that they can connect with Lere Road in Bauchi State. We have also the road from Bauchi to Gombe. That has been awarded and it will be done as well.

“And for this constituency, you don’t have to be told. Anywhere you move, you see primary school being built, you see health centre being built or being renovated. If you see any solar light in Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro for instance, I brought it.

“It is all on the account of representation and if we don’t represent you well, you cannot have those projects. Those projects are testimony to the work that we do today.”

May 16, 2017
Only strong institutions can fight corruption – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Monday said until strong institutions are built and strengthened in Nigeria, the country would not fight corruption effectively.

Dogara said this at the launch of a book titled “Antidotes for Corruption: The Nigerian Story’’ written by Senator Dino Melaye.

He said only strong institutions could fight corruption in the country.

According to him, for the war against corruption to succeed, there must be institutional reforms that would help put in place measures to make it near impossible for people to engage in corrupt acts.

“Corruption as a disease must be treated from its roots and not just the symptoms,’’ he said.

Dogara said it was the moral responsibility of all men and women of goodwill to fight corruption because every individual paid the price of corruption in the society.

“As a country, we ran into a situation where corruption was becoming the norm; there was this moral cult that we had created that celebrated corruption,’’ he said.

He added that the motivation was always there for corruption, but that now, what was important was not just fighting the old corrupt system.

“Really, if we must make progress, our focus should be to replace the old order that was corrupt with a new order that makes corruption near impossible to take place,’’ he said.

May 15, 2017
Day Dogara returned from ‘exile’ with bounties
On Friday May 5, 2017, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, received a rousing welcome to his home state of Bauchi. Ordinarily, a representative on a visit to his constituency shouldn’t attract such fanfare but this wasn’t just usual constituency visit as the Rep was said to have gone on “exile” even though four months prior, he was in Bauchi, and always interacts with his people as he often hosts different groups from across the state in Abuja.

For the record, he was in Bauchi last August and December and was billed to go back in April this year, which means that he goes back to give account of his stewardship to the good people of Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency every three to four months.

Readers may recall that very recently, the Bauchi State government issued a statement in which they alleged that the Speaker had gone on “exile” and cannot visit his constituency which, to them, amounts to abdication of responsibilities even though they know that he was there just four months ago. In his response, Dogara had stated that as a federal lawmaker, he was elected to work in Abuja and as such he is not supposed to be seen frequently in Bauchi as doing so could be considered dereliction of duty. He further added that as Speaker, he visits honourable members’ constituencies to help launch their projects and programmes and attend other social events cutting across the 36 states of the federation, which effectively denies him the luxury of visiting his constituency often. Regrettably however, he said, those who were elected to work in Bauchi are now the ones who are seen more frequently in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and other cities across the country and even foreign lands, meaning that they spend more time outside their place of primary assignment.

Rumours have permeated every nook and cranny of the state that Hon. Dogara cannot visit his home state as he might have been declared persona non grata by the powers that be but to their chagrin, the Speaker’s visit was announced well ahead of time in both local and national media to put them on notice that he will be going home on May 5, and contrary to what had been said, a mammoth crowd had gathered to wait for hours at the Plateau/Bauchi border to welcome their son, and the party continued from one village to another up to Bauchi city.

For a hour journey from Jos to Bauchi, it took the Speaker’s train almost four hours due to heavy vehicular movement with stopover every 20 to 30 kilometres to greet the thousands of citizens who came out en masse to welcome and cheer their son. Dogara, in company of over 162 Federal MPs, friends and associates, drove straight to Sir AbubakarTafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital where he moved from one ward to another, consoling patients who were children, women, young and old.

The Speaker, together with his colleagues settled medical bills of many patients. In April last year, he sent a team of 60 medical doctors, surgeons and nurses to the same hospital where they attended to the medical needs of over 50,000 people from Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa ,Borno and Taraba State for two weeks.

Thereafter, he also went to condole with two Bauchi elders who were bereaved recently, had lunch in Senator Ali Wakili’s residence and visited Senator Suleiman Nazif’s house before proceeding to Tafawa Balewa.

The next day, May 6, the Speaker commissioned a market donated to Bogoro community by a good Samaritan which he facilitated, and then inspected state of work at Government Girls Secondary School Tafawa Balewa FOR WHICH he attracted federal presence with the total renovation of the school and building and equipping of ultra-modern ICT centre among other laudable projects. He was received by hundreds of schoolgirls who were beautifully dressed in their blue and white uniforms. They sang songs of joy on sighting the man who is investing in their future.

The main reception was held in Dass and a sea of human beings flooded the area with some people climbing on top of the beautiful Dass mountains to catch a glimpse of “Dan Amana” as they fondly call him because according to Frieddrich Nietzsche, in the mountains of truth, you never climb in vain. The event at Dass, which was initially meant to flag off construction of four roads that traverse Gombe, Bauchi and Plateau states, turned out to be a major political gathering which sent shock waves across the state.

The gathering brought together old friends and foes, and was attended by not fewer than 30,000 people including women and children. It also attracted the presence of big political stalwarts and juggernauts in the state including the immediate past governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, Hon Yusuf Tugga, Senator Maikafi, Senator Adamu Gumba, Senator Mohammed Mohammed, scores of retired former permanent secretaries in the state, retired or dethroned traditional rulers numbering about 100 who were removed by the present government, students, and a number of cultural groups who performed to entertain the guests among others.

Of all the dozen villages and towns the Speaker visited commissioning healthcare centres, water and electricity projects, schools including big Almajiri schools he built in Fulani communities, Dull, a community also in Tafawa Balewa Local Government stood out. The team arrived there between 6-7pm and the people especially youths positioned themselves more than 5 kilometres ahead to receive the Speaker. Sarkin Dull, Alhaji Zulkiflu Abdullahi was recently deposed by the Bauchi State government after he refused to go on state radio to read a prepared text attacking Hon Dogara. The chief had said that he will rather be removed than to go against his conscience and his people to attack and blackmail a patriotic and peace-loving leader who attracted projects that will forever change the destiny of his people and their land, especially the road which will link his community to neighbouring Plateau and Taraba states.

The roads are entirely new roads that will open up these communities and link them with other parts of the country across the three states with their total cost or value put at over N50 billion, and the Speaker gave assurance that the road project will be completed within the next two years. He also added that in collaboration with governments of neighbouring states, other road projects will be constructed to ease movement from Bauchi State to their respective states.

Apparently overwhelmed with joy, the visibly elated Malam Isa Yuguda told the mammoth crowd that it was the first time federal projects of such magnitude were attracted to Bauchi since the creation of the state and urged the people to keep praying for the Speaker so that he can do more for them.

When it was his turn to speak, Dogara, didn’t disappoint. He reminded the people that every solar power street light in the three local governments were his projects. No wonder they also call him “mai solar”, and added that he just completed total renovation of Dass Central Mosque which he later inspected after the event.

Earlier, he had facilitated the construction of the 78 kilometre Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa road with three bridges by the federal government, which happens to be the best road with no single pothole in the whole of Bauchi State. This is in addition to scores of primary health care centres, hundreds of blocks of classroom in primary schools, empowerment schemes including in rice farming, cottage industry, transportation, tailoring, training of young people in agriculture in Israel, scholarship schemes for students in tertiary institutions from first degree to PhD level, etc. These are just few works of an “exiled” representative who boldly told his people that “We are real children, we were born and bred here, we grew up here among you, we won’t tell you lies because we have no other place greater than Bauchi.”

Thereafter, the speaker lead over 30,000 of his constituents to offer special interfaith prayers for the health of President Muhammadu Buhari, led by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dass Local Goverment, Reverend Kefas Galadima and Sheikh Hamza Dass.

Indeed, if staying in Abuja to work and attract unprecedented number of federal projects by MPs is seen or misinterpreted mischievously in some quarters as going on exile, then not only Bauchi people but Nigerians would rather have them stay put in their places of primary assignment instead of junketing from one city or country to another as is now the norm being practised by their traducers.
- Hassan is Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to Speaker Dogara.
May 12, 2017