An excellent way to achieve this would be to have a Speaker of the House who represents Nigerians’ common aspirations; a Speaker who is fearless, incorruptible, intellectually sound and inherently pro-people. This description fits Yakubu Dogara – a Northern Christian representing a Muslim majority constituency in Bauchi State- and the reasons stated below further lend credence to his aspiration to the House Speakership.
The APC’s victory during the just-concluded elections may very well be described as a joint effort between four out of six geopolitical zones; the North-West, contributing the highest number of votes, followed by the North-East, North Central and South-West, in that order. With the President-Elect being from the North-West and his Vice from the South-West, it therefore goes without saying that in the spirit of equity, the other key positions of numbers three and four citizens should be filled by people from the North-Central and North-East.
The APC has made history by unseating a serving president; the people of the North-East – a region that has never produced Speaker or Senate President – also hope to make history in the Eighth Assembly.
It should be recalled that despite being under constant threat from Boko Haram, the people of North-East Nigeria defied the threat of bombs and other forms of mayhem by mindless lunatics and turned out en masse to vote for General Muhammadu Buhari. Also, during the campaign, the highest turnout at the APC presidential rallies was recorded in Maiduguri, Borno State, despite security concerns as people trekked 30 kilometres to catch a glimpse of Buhari.
A Speaker form the North-East would also go a long way in reminding Nigerians from that troubled region that they have not been forgotten and still remain as key stakeholders in the Nigerian Project. It would be a way to acknowledge their suffering and show appreciation for their sacrifice and ultimately, serve as a solemn promise that the security challenge will be at the forefront of issues.
Despite the prevalent perception of Northerners as a homogenous group by most Nigerians in the South, there are dozens of ethnic nationalities in Northern Nigeria and Northerners are not all Muslims. The Muslim/Christian divide in the North had previously been a basis for political differences but this time around, Northern Christians supported the APC and the candidacy of General Buhari, with large numbers being recorded in Christian strongholds in states like Plateau, Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, Taraba among others.
The North-East also has the highest concentration of minority ethnicities, with some states having average of three tribes within each local government. A good way to silence critics of the APC and proponents of the Hausa/Fulani “Born to Rule” conspiracy is to choose a Speaker who will represent the interests of Northern Christians while simultaneously representing the many ethnic minorities in the North.
The one interest that supersedes all others is that of ALL Nigerians, irrespective of where they are from. Many are averse to zoning because they believe merit and qualification are sacrificed at its altar; while this may be true in many cases, in this case, it is not. In fact, all factors seem to be working together for the good of the North-East – at least, as far as Speakership is concerned.
One son of the North East has signified interest in becoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Eighth National Assembly; he is Yakubu Dogara, the member representing the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State. Dogara has been a member of the House since 2007 and he is tipped by fellow legislators as the one aspirant to that position who can consolidate on achievements recorded by the 7th Assembly under the leadership of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and make the Lower House more efficient and responsive to Nigerians’ needs.
Dogara’s sojourn in the House has been strongly pro-people; his legislative interests include regulating monopolies, company law, intellectual property and tenancy. He aims to “enact strong tenancy laws and see to the repeal of obsolete laws”.
Staying true to his legislative aims, he sponsored the Corporate Manslaughter Bill in 2010 to check negligence in corporate organisations which inadvertently leads to loss of lives. Also, in 2013, Dogara sought to have ambiguities regarding the impeachment process removed (through an amendment to section 143), and this earned him sponsored attempts to have him recalled.
Dogara has headed the House Services Committee since 2010, and not one scandal has occurred under his watch. He also headed the House Committee on Customs and Excise; and has been on the House Committees on Judiciary, Capital Markets, Foreign Affairs, Rural Development and Power, among others.
Dogara has also sponsored motions against the indiscriminate and illegal granting of waivers by the Federal Government.
Dogara presents the perfect opportunity for the APC to get it right; to rise above dictatorship, godfatherism and selfish politics and give all Nigerians who played a key role in the APC’s victory a sense of belonging and appreciation.
Michael wrote from Abuja.
