Dogara: Another Term for Jonathan Spells Doom

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Hon. Yakubu Dogara

Personality Interview

Hon. Yakubu Dogara representing Tafawa-Balewa/Bogoro/Das Federal constituency of Bauchi State is the Chairman, House Services Committee in the House of Representatives. In this interview with Muhammad Bello, he spoke on various issues of national interest. Excerpts:

You are one of the 37 PDP members in the House of Representatives who recently defected to the APC; what informed that decision?

No one doubts the fact that these are days of gross darkness- gross darkness of dearth of infrastructure, unbridled corruption, mass poverty, unemployment, insecurity and impunity. There has never been a time in our history since the civil war that our dear nation has been so divided. Ever wondered why we are shunned by advanced democracies and even recent democracies like South Africa treat us with venomous contempt reserved only for Pariah states?

This is a nation that is blessed with potential but sadly, we are tottering precariously at the edge of a bottomless pit. We have failed to realise that our net worth as a nation is solely dependent on the quality of networks we built. We equally failed to see that the association we keep determines our destination. In the midst of a prodigious company, vice reigns supreme while virtue is not appreciated and what you don't appreciate will depreciate. That is where we are.

The founding fathers of the PDP had envisioned the ruins of dictatorship coming to live in a strong and united nation that would release its full potential through credible leadership. Unfortunately, the party they laboured to build in the face of ominous threats to their lives was soon taken over by political opportunists or prodigal fathers if you like, some of whom never shared in their convictions. Instead of providing credible leadership, we got to a point where we could not even sustain the status quo. We need no seer to tell us that without motion we can't make progress as aptly captured by Albert Einstein, who said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” 

Why do you think the APC is a party that can bring about credible leadership capable of driving meaningful changes?

I see progressively minded people in the party. It's now the major hope for our nation. If PDP is swept out of office, it will be a major incentive for the APC to work hard for the people knowing that if Nigerians didn't spare the PDP, they won't spare APC either if it fails to deliver. In any case, If APC wins and fails to bring about meaningful change, mark my words, I will exit politics altogether.

Your defection came to many as a surprise considering your hitherto known closeness to the presidency especially that you are a Christian?

The last time I checked the PDP Constitution, Jonathan was not listed as the core investor or sole owner of the party. I am a practicing Christian and I’m yet to find a Biblical authority that makes a distinction between a Christian and non-Christian oppressor. What is Christian in Jonathan's administration? Name one fruit of the spirit that is associated with the administration? Let me name them in case you don't know,  the Bible says, "but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” 

The Bible also says “if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." This administration that demonstrates none of the fruits of the spirit is not of Christ. Only ignorant Christians can believe the lie that a regime run by someone with a Christian name qualifies him as a Christian regime which they must defend. That's not the Christianity I practice. I am enjoined to test the spirits and every man is enjoined to prove his own works.

Let me say without equivocation that I am against injustice, corruption, oppression and vices regardless of whether it's being perpetrated by a Christian or Muslim. In the same vein, I’ll stand with a man of integrity who has the competence to promote fairness, equity and justice in governance regardless of his or her creed.

God didn't consult me before putting a mix of religions in Nigeria. Where God willed it, he made them all Christians, or Muslims or agnostics. No one can alter that except God himself. It will take someone greater than God to eliminate any constituent group in the country. There's none greater than God so that is not achievable. That's why we must all learn to live together as brothers and sisters and promote the best of us into leadership positions regardless of creed. We have to finally lay to rest, this ghost of ethno-religious differences in order to make progress. I know of no other better way to promote progress in a diverse and pluralistic country like Nigeria.

What do you make of the threat by the PDP to declare your seats vacant?

It's sad that the wine of impunity has drenched the soul of PDP. The leaders don't care about the Constitution or our laws anymore. Even fantasies induced by hangover are thought implementable. That's the depth of decay we have sunk to. The rule of law means nothing in the strange democracy we practice here. Take a look at S.68(1)(g) of the constitution which the party is referring to. The power to declare defecting members’ seat vacant is solely vested in the presiding officer, the Senate President or Speaker of the House as the case may be. It's in black and white.

Section 68 (1)(g) of the constitution does not mention INEC, the Courts or any Party for that matter. It's a demonstration of crass ignorance for PDP to have written to INEC or even go to the Courts to have defecting members' seats declared vacant. Thank God INEC swiftly replied that it lacks the constitutional powers to do so. Even in these days of black market judgments, it will be near impossible for any sane judge to interpret section 68(1)(g) of the constitution which does not mention the court as conferring the powers to declare defecting members’ seat vacant on him. That will amount to judicial rascality of the highest order. Constitutionally speaking, its sheer rubbish to talk about INEC or the Courts declaring any member’s seat vacant; it's just a childish threat borne out of ignorance.

Why did you then obtain a restraining order from the court before defecting in the light of what you know to be the import of S.68(1)(g) and S.68(2) of the Constitution?

We felt it was the right thing to do especially when you are dealing with people who are desperately reckless and lawless. We knew the first wave of mass defection was going to come with shock waves capable of stripping some people of their sanity. We needed the injunction to stop all the parties from taking any action until we arrive at a lucid interval where all will realise that it's a bad case. From the Constitutional stand point, it is practically impossible to declare a member’s seat vacant on the grounds of defection unless he is defecting to a minority party.

Now that we are back to lucid interval, the second wave of mass defection is coming with a bang. The first one was operation "shock and awe". The parties now know that nothing can be done about it and members who want to defect can now do so having discountenanced the empty threat by the PDP to have their seats declared vacant in the event that they defect. The injunction wasn't necessary at all. It was obtained for political convenience and for nothing more or else. I’m glad it served its purpose very well.

Don't you think it is morally wrong for you to abandon your friends and political benefactors in the PDP?

I don't think any of my friends feels that way. I made it abundantly clear to them I was going to quit the party long before the defection took place. Most of my friends share my convictions just that they decided to stay in the PDP hoping against hope that they will precipitate the needed reforms from within the party. They have won my respect and admiration for that show of unparalleled determination to be resilient. I don't envy the work before them, though.

Now that the PDP is singing reconciliatory tune, don't you think it will be difficult for you to return to the House if they eventually put their house in order or in the event that it succeeds in having your seat declared vacant?

I was in the House when section 68 was introduced in the constitution. I know what we did and I am telling you that no Jupiter can declare my seat vacant. Take it or leave it, it's just a joke which cannot be carried too far without very dire consequences. In any case, I’m not afraid of losing my seat. That's was why I took the plunge in spite of the fact that my political mentors and the governor are still members of the PDP. From what I have seen and known, I have come to an inescapable conclusion that four more years of Jonathan as president and of Governor Yuguda's cronies in Government House, Bauchi, would spell doom for Nigeria and Bauchi State. I’m more than prepared and ready to sacrifice everything including my seat to ensure positive and meaningful change at both levels.

What’s your take on the politics of letter writing involving a former president and President Jonathan?

I can understand President Obasanjo's frustration because he is vicariously liable for all of the things he is accusing President Jonathan of. He acknowledged this by alluding to how he helped installed Jonathan as president. As strong as the tone of the letter is, it still falls short of absolving him of that liability. He must do more!

Does that take away his moral right to hit at his godson as some have posited? May be yes! But like all Nigerians, President Obasanjo is under a moral duty to say the truth regardless of his own shortcomings. Now, if the truth is what matters, tell me what aspect of President Obasanjo's letter (including the allegation that the regime is training snipers) that can be objectively faulted? I don't believe President Obasanjo is that brazenly desperate to resort to inventing lies in order to make a case against the sitting president.

On the part of the president, whoever advised him to join issues with President Obasanjo must have done him a great disservice. What strategic victory has the reply earned the president? For me, the reply amounted to saying that because you were not better, you don't have the right to complain that I am worse. It will take the super intelligent to make sense of this kind of street approach. Hope many Nigerians are that intelligent.