Dogara to Buhari: Posterity will judge you with electoral reforms, 2023 election
… We cannot look away as stakeholders in the Nigeria project
… Have faith in Nigeria, our challenges as a nation will become history
POLITICS DIGEST– President Muhammadu Buhari can etch his name in gold as a hero of Nigeria’s democracy if he follows through with the reforms of the nation’s electoral process, Hon Yakubu Dogara, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said.
He commended the President for “radical reforms” of Nigeria’s electoral process, especially with the introduction of the Biomodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) into the election process.
The former Speaker said it is a challenge to all Nigerians to ensure that the reforms are implemented in the 2023 general elections.
Dogara, who is also the Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, spoke on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the 12th Convocation ceremony of the University.
“Permit me to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring radical reforms in the electoral process. I say this from my heart, especially with regards to the use of BVAS.
“If he follows it through, he will bequeath to us a legacy of democratic process that has no parallels in Africa.
“I, therefore, say that President Buhari has a date with history and he can truly be the hero of our democracy if he ensures that our votes count in 2023.
“Thereafter, we can now beat our chest and say we have not only elected leaders in elections where our votes count, but we have elected leadership that we deserve. It is a challenge to all Nigerians to ensure that we carry through the reforms and follow them across to the finish line.
He further charged all Nigerians not to sell their votes or refuse to vote saying, “remember that the power is in your vote and your vote is your future. Therefore, don’t sell it and don’t keep it in your room, you must use it. Participate by coming out massively to vote for your conscience.”
See the full speech below :
ACHIEVERS UNIVERSITY OWO ONDO STATE
12th Convocation/15th Year Foundation Anniversary Speech of the Chancellor, Rt Hon (Dr.) Yakubu Dogara, CFR on Saturday 10th December, 2022
(1) Protocols
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, how time flies! This gathering marks two great events, the 12th Convocation of this great University in which scores of undergraduate and postgraduate Achievers are officially certificated to begin or continue with their given careers and join other Nigerians in order to continue with the Nigeria project and to further contribute their own quota , as global citizens, 7to the Universal economic development. The second event, equally important is the celebration of the 15th “birthday” of this great University, the University haven received its operating licence on 11th December 2007, the climax of the Foundation day ceremony being a Thanksgiving Service at the Church tomorrow, the actual “birth date”.
(2) It is therefore both a privilege and an honour to stand before you as the Chancellor of the University to congratulate the Students who are being crowned as successful after a period of hardwork and diligent pursuit of knowledge; to congratulate and felicitate with the Honorary Doctoral Degree Awardees at this auspicious event and the Proprietors of Achievers University for a dream come true.
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(3) In felicitating with the Honorary Doctoral Degree Awardees, I welcome and rejoice with His Lordship, Honourable Justice Ayo Isa Salami for this honour well deserved, your excellent services at both the bench and ICPC, particularly at the helm of Affairs of the Court of Appeal will continue to attract recognition for a long time to come. Equally befitting and honorable is the choice of His Imperial Majesty, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, also a Lawyer of no mean repute, Yours is triple joy, Your Imperial Majesty. You are being honoured at home; this is happening at your time and domain; and Owo Kingdom has a University at last, after a long time of hope and expectations. Accept my Congratulations. The Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Hon Isa Pantami, is one of us – an emerging Leader of distinction and candor. A Leader with focus and clear vision. Your choice for this great honour is not mistaken given some groundbreaking accomplishments in the sector you so zealously and effectively suprintend over. Permit me to heartily congratulate you for an honour well deserved.
(4) My message to all stakeholders of Achievers University is not to relent in their efforts to achieve their aim of establishing the University. Our motto is clear, “knowledge Integrity and Leadership” and our registered vision is as clear and noble, “to be the best University in Africa and one of the World’s best”. This is a tall ambition but achievable. For there would always be the best, and it would be a University established somewhere. It is very possible to be Achievers University Owo. You have started very well, the record speaks very loudly that you are on the right track to make our dear country proud. But no one should deceive you that our vision and mission can be achieved without hardwork, perseverance and discipline. It is said that the reward for hard work is more work. So don’t be surprised if we ask you to do more as it may very well be a compliment for the hard work you do daily.
(5) To the graduating Students today. You have your dreams and I am sure your dreams are clear. I enjoin you to pursue you dreams without fears. The environment seems very tough but know very well that when it is tough, it is the tough that gets going. Achievers University project is a good example that you can still achieve your goals with strong determination and grace of God. i counsel you o key into that grace by being diligent in whatever you do and pursue your goals with high sense of integrity and fear of God. you may fail, by your own definition of failure, in one or two endeavours but I dare say to you there is nothing like failure – if there is any, it is always a lesson and an opportunity to begin afresh with the full benefits of the wisdom the failure has taught you and thereby avoiding the mistakes of the past. Success is sure, if you don’t give in or give up.
(6) This event is happening at a time Nigeria is getting ready for another round of elections. We cannot look away as stakeholders in the Nigeria project, it is therefore imperative that we have a voice in moving the Nation forward. I wish to strongly appeal to you and other Nigerians to have faith in Nigeria. Whatever challenges we are facing today shall definitely become history. Other great Nations of the world today had passed through their moments of great difficulty and challenges too. No difficulty can be compared with a War situation. I am glad we survived the civil war and here we are as a Nation. This period will soon pass away and we shall come out stronger. Belive me after years of labour in Egypt there is a land flowing with milk and honey that has been prepared for us but we won’t get there until we have crossed the red sea, river Jordan and survived the desert.The desert years may stagnate but I assure you, they shall come to an end one day as sudden as the dawn appears.
The tenure of every challenge depends on the solutions proffered, whether radical or palliative. As we approach the election to chose another set of leaders, we must apply radical solutions to solving our Leadership problems. Being radical is to shun violence and vote buying and embrace peaceful electoral process that entails orderliness and voting for your conscience. Permit me at this juncture to commend President Buhari for ensuring radical reforms in the electoral process to make votes count, most especially in the use of BVAS. If Mr President follows through and walks his talks he would bequeath a democratic legacy that has no parallels in Africa. I belive Mr President has a date with history for he may yet be a true hero of democracy. I urge him to carry the reforms across the finish line as it is only then that we can truly say we finally got the leaders that we elected and deserve. I urge you to always remember that the power is your vote and your vote is your future – don’t sell it and don’t keep it in your room. You must use it. Participate by coming out massively to vote your conscience. Vote for unity, peace, justice and development.
(7) As we continue in the spirit of celebrations that will later in the month culminate into Christmas and New year, I wish you the very best of these seasons and happy new year in advance.
Rt Hon (Dr) Yakubu Dogara, CFR