YAKUBU DOGARA: THE STEADY FLAME OF LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC JOURNEY
Yakubu Dogara stands out as a steady, principled leader in Nigeria’s democracy, embodying service, unity, and ethical leadership across political divides.
By Walcott Aganu
Yakubu dogara
Leadership
National assembly
In the ever-changing landscape of Nigerian leadership, where the political scene often shifts under the weight of partisanship and institutional fragility, there are few figures whose names evoke both respect and reassurance across political and ethnic divides. One such figure is Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara. The name does not just ring a bell, it strikes a solemn chord in the consciousness of many Nigerians who have come to associate it with a rare blend of conviction, character, and competence.
Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and newly appointed Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company, is not merely a politician occupying yet another public office. He is a man whose public life has consistently embodied a deep moral philosophy: that leadership is not a pursuit of privilege but a mandate of service. In an era when many public officials measure success by power amassed or wealth displayed, Dogara remains an embodiment of dignified restraint and responsible governance.
His political ascendancy is not the tale of a man swept into relevance by luck or elite favoritism. Rather, it is the story of deliberate strides one earned through intellectual rigor, unshakeable principles, and an ability to command trust across Nigeria’s often fractious national space. As Speaker between 2015 and 2019, Dogara steered the House with a steady hand during one of the most turbulent periods in Nigeria’s democratic history. Under his watch, the legislature was not reduced to a rubber stamp. It became an arena of robust debate, institutional reforms, and legislative maturity.
He championed critical bills that laid the foundation for transparency in governance. Still, even more than legislation, Dogara’s true legacy as Speaker lies in the equilibrium he brought to the chamber, a place notorious for divisiveness. He was a consensus builder, a reconciler, and a mediator in the truest sense of the word. He knew when to speak, when to yield, and when to stand firm, which are all hallmarks of a statesman.
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company, it was a recognition of competence grounded in consistency. At a time when Nigeria’s economy yearns for revitalization, placing a man like Dogara in a position to midwife broader access to credit, particularly for small and medium enterprises, is not just strategic. It is inspired. His new role is more than administrative. It is a national imperative to spark grassroots empowerment and economic inclusivity.
Yet, Dogara’s story goes far beyond policy and political positions. He is deeply human in his politics, a quality that emerged again at the Bwatiye 2025 International Cultural Festival and Fundraising event in Adamawa. There, he delivered what many now call a "sermon of the soul," urging Nigerians to see beyond their tribal and religious labels and embrace a deeper sense of shared identity. In his words, “Unity is our strength, not in numbers, but in purpose.” These were not empty declarations for applause. They were echoes of a worldview shaped by lived experience and philosophical conviction.
Dogara believes in the Nigerian project. He does not see the country through the lens of its problems but through the promise of its people. His optimism is not naïve. It is rooted in his understanding of what Nigeria has been, what it is becoming, and what it can still be. He is neither cynical nor boastful. He is pragmatic, his public engagements always tempered by caution, care, and a call for collective responsibility.
For a nation that often wrestles with the trauma of insurgency and the pressures of economic uncertainty, Dogara offers something rare: calmness in the storm. He is not one to chase headlines. His voice is deliberate, his tone measured, his interventions thoughtful. He may not always trend on social media, but in the inner circles of Nigerian power and policy, Dogara commands genuine influence born out of respect, not fear.
His commitment to service transcends political tides. Even outside elective office, he continues to mentor younger politicians, support community development projects, and push for reforms that put people first. In an age where public service is frequently mistaken for personal enrichment, Yakubu Dogara stands tall as a model of ethical leadership.
It is also important to note that Dogara does not feed into the common narrative of dysfunction that some associate with Nigeria. While he acknowledges the challenges, his rhetoric never succumbs to despair. He believes that this nation, bruised as it may be, is still brimming with the potential for greatness. That belief is what he carries into every assignment, every speech, and every quiet consultation with stakeholders across the country.
As Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, Dogara’s life and work offer a poignant reminder of what is still possible when leaders are driven not by ego but by empathy. Not by politics of division, but by the duty to unify and uplift. He is not just a man of today. He is a man prepared for the tomorrow Nigeria is yearning for.
In a continent searching for moral anchors and visionary statesmen, Yakubu Dogara offers both. He does not shout. He does not dramatize. But his presence in Nigerian public life continues to send ripples of reassurance to citizens who long for truth in power.
To describe him simply as a politician would be to diminish his essence. Yakubu Dogara is a statesman, a patriot, a quiet revolutionary whose greatest weapon is his unflinching belief in the dignity of service. As he takes on yet another national role, Nigerians can take comfort in knowing that in Dogara, they have not just a leader, but a conscience, a man who represents the best of what Nigeria has been and can still become.
