Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu, arguing that political alignment with the administration has not silenced minority voices and that Nigeria’s democracy still provides room for diverse opinions.
Dogara spoke on Sunday in Abuja, where he reflected on governance, rotational presidency and the need to preserve national cohesion.
He dismissed claims that rotational presidency undermines merit, insisting that competence is not limited by geography.
“The fear is always that rotation compromises merit and competence, but that argument doesn’t hold water. There are competent people in every part of this country, North and South,” he said.
Dogara explained that the recently established Forum of Former Members of the Legislature was created to tap into the experience of past lawmakers and reinforce democratic values at a time when such ideals face global pressure.
According to him, the forum brings together former senators, members of the House of Representatives, state assembly members and councillors from across the 774 local governments.
“The core idea is to harness the skills and institutional knowledge we gained while serving the nation. We believe we have a duty to unite around the principles that brought us into politics and speak with one voice in defence of democracy,” he said.
On rotational presidency, Dogara stressed the importance of fairness and mutual trust between regions.
“Justice to the North must also be justice to the South. Justice is indivisible. Once that understanding is reached, it becomes easier to adjust arrangements in a way that removes suspicion and mistrust,” he noted.
The former Speaker pointed to what he described as tangible interventions by the Tinubu administration, particularly in the North-East, citing infrastructure and security improvements.
He recalled a recent visit to the Mandara Plateau, where the President flagged off the construction of a long-awaited road linking Gembu to Yumguni near the Cameroonian border, a project he said dated back to the 1961 plebiscite.
“That terrain was extremely difficult. What used to take about six hours will now take roughly 45 minutes when the road is completed. That is a clear demonstration of leadership,” Dogara said.
He also said security conditions in parts of the North-East have improved, noting increased movement and travel during the Christmas period.
“For the first time in about 15 years, I saw heavy traffic heading into the North-East. People are beginning to trust that security is improving. Those who fled are now returning, at least during the holidays,” he said.
Despite his support for Tinubu, Dogara maintained that dissenting opinions remain protected.
“Nobody has been stopped from expressing opposing views. We are in a democracy. We have stated our position, but we are also willing to listen and even be persuaded to change our minds,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the marginalisation of Christians in the North, Dogara said the situation differs from state to state.
“In some areas there are challenges, but in states like Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa, Christian voices are not suppressed. These issues are localised, and cooperation between Christians and Muslims is the key to resolving them,” he added.
He played down speculation about his potential emergence as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027, saying political decisions should be guided by principle rather than fear.
“We should not act out of fear of anyone. Whatever we do must be because it is the right thing to do,” he said.
Dogara concluded by calling for stronger religious and regional unity, recalling his own emergence as Speaker as an example of cross-faith collaboration.
“I want to see Muslims defend Christians and Christians defend Muslims again and again. That unity is what the North and Nigeria need to rebuild,” he said.
He also dismissed opposition claims that the All Progressives Congress could not prevail in a free and fair election, describing such assertions as empty rhetoric rather than credible political strategy.
