Sam Philip
A former Speaker of the House Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a leader prepared to lead Nigeria with unbridled courage at a personal cost.
Dogara stated this on Saturday while delivering his speech at the 14th convocation and 17th foundation anniversary of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
He noted that any leader, who’s ready to transform Nigeria, must be brave as well as make and allow history to happen.
The ex-federal lawmaker stated that Nigeria was plunged into its current socio-economic situation due to lack of good leadership .
Dogara said: “With what President Bola Tinubu has done, whether it’s the freeing of local government areas from the choke-hold of economic stagnation the states had hitherto subjected them to or the groundbreaking bold tax reforms proposals he had placed before the National Assembly, I see a glimmer of hope that we may be dealing with a leader who is prepared to lead with unbridled courage even at personal cost.
“It gladdens my heart that we are now dealing with a leader who is not avoiding stubborn tasks and very much unwilling to put off difficult conversations.
“With him, courage has become a habit and that habit has the power to transform our leadership as the miracles we are desperately yearning for may well lie in the tasks and difficult conversations we are avoiding.
“I support president’s tax reforms not because they are perfect but because it is the right thing to do.
“However, I must concede the fact that those opposed to it have the right to do so, but I do not share their jaundiced nay tenuous and puerile position that because they disagree with some aspects of the reforms, then the reforms must be withdrawn or killed,
“Leaders who are dedicated to reforms to reforms and progress don’t make such poor judgement calls, at all.”
Dogara, who is the Chancellor of the varsity, noted that to address the nation’s current economic challenges, it required bold, decisive and coordinated actions across multiple fronts.
He added that to transform the federation, sacrifices, accountability and collective resolve from all Nigerians are required.
Addressing the youth in the nation, Dogara charged them to ensure they participate in the ongoing transformation, saying that through education, innovations, and a shared commitment to excellence, ‘we can build a Nigeria that fulfils the aspirations of its people.’