Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Nigerians to manage their expectations from the government, acknowledging its limitations in solving all their problems.
This statement was made by Barr Yakubu Dogara during his speech at The Platform Nigeria on “Democracy and the Free Market Economy” in Lagos on June 12, 2024.
Dogara emphasized the importance of controlling misplaced anger and understanding that democracy can be chaotic, but citizens must work prudently to build a strong economy.
He also highlighted the significance of a reward system that promotes creativity and entrepreneurship, rather than seeking personal gains.
Furthermore, Dogara commended President Tinubu’s efforts and urged the Supreme Court to grant autonomy to local governments, as it would contribute to true democracy and a federal system.
“We must accept the fact that our government has limitations and, therefore, cannot solve all our individual problems. It may be a difficult message to convey, but it is the harsh reality.
“If Nigeria clings to what is considered normal, it will continue to let go of what is possible. We must never forget that scientists built the Titanic, but amateurs built the Ark. While the Titanic couldn’t survive a collision with an iceberg, the Ark defied the global floods.
“The fight to rebuild our struggling economy is a collective effort. We must reduce the current poverty levels at all costs, and the government must lead the way by aggressively pursuing and implementing policies that foster a thriving ecosystem of MSMEs across the country.
“We need to navigate through the noise in Nigeria and work prudently. Noise is inevitable in healthy democracies. It is an integral part of a vibrant democratic culture, encompassing a free press, democratic elections, parliamentary debates, civil society activities, labor unions, and the process of conflict, compromise, and consensus.
“We must understand the responsibility that comes with freedom, which means that we are free not to be irresponsible. No democracy grants its citizens the license to be their worst selves; fascism does. Therefore, we must use our democratic rights to build rather than destroy.
“For progress to be achieved, we must establish a reward system that benefits hardworking citizens, not rent-seekers disguising themselves as businessmen and women, who are polluting our economic space,” he stated.
Defining democracy, Dogara stated, “In the case of Nigeria, it is fair to say that we have a constitutional democracy. The fact that Nigeria is a democracy is even stated in the Constitution itself. Section 14(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that ‘The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.'”
“I cannot conclude this speech without mentioning the unfortunate demise or deliberate elimination of the third tier of government in Nigeria – the Local Government Areas.
“Theoretically, we have 774 of them, but practically, all except the Six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory have ceased to exist since 2002 when the tenure of the last democratically elected Council expired and State Governors took over the system.
“Despite the fact that almost 30 percent or more of Nigeria’s revenue goes to the local governments, their resources have been misappropriated and wasted through joint accounts by successive state governments for over two decades.
This has caused significant economic disruption for more than half of our population living in rural areas,” he added.
