Photo: Prof. Dakas C.J Dakas
The return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 was greeted with mixed feelings of high expectations and uncertainty. However, it is now 22 years and Nigerians have come to appreciate the fact that the one and the ultimate component of a democratic system is that it gives the citizens an ultimate opportunity to determine their affairs through electing credible leaders into political offices.
Amongst the array of credible people that are seeking elective office as Governor of Plateau State come 2023 is Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas, PhD, SAN.
Prof. Dakas C.J. Dakas is the second legal practitioner from Plateau State conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); and the youngest academic to occupy a Distinguished Professor of Law Chair in a Nigerian tertiary institution.
Dakas is also one of only four Nigerian professors of Law to hold the office of Attorney-General and to be conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.(SAN)).
Prof. Dakas who is of the Mupun tribe, was born on August 23, 1967 in Tokbet, Jipal District, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State.
He started his primary education at L.G.E.D. in Katul, Plateau State, from where he proceeded to Boys Secondary School Gindiri for his “O” Level and finished as the Best Graduating Student of the Year 1986.
He gained admission into the University of Jos where he graduated with a First Class honour in Law, and was awarded the Best Student in the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, the Gally Brown-Peterside Award for the Best Student in Law; the Gally Brown-Peterside Award for the Best Student in Constitutional Law; the Prince Bola Ajibola Award for the Best Student in Jurisprudence; the Chief R. A. O. Akinjide Award for (being the first of) the Three Best Students in Law; and the Plateau State Government Scholarship.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990 and went on to obtain his LLM from both the University of Jos and New York University before crowning it with a Ph.D from the University of Jos. Prof. Dakas was conferred with the prestigious professional rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at the young age of 45 in September 2012.
Prof. Dakas rose from lecturing at the Faculty of Law, University of Jos, to the rank of Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence in October 2010, aged 43. He also served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Plateau State, Nigeria, from 2004-2006 during the Joshua Dariye administration. He is also the Principal Partner, Dakas C.J. Dakas, SAN & Co. Law Firm.
He has authored and edited many books on law and others, and is a member of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN); International Association of Law Schools (IALS), Washington DC, USA; Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT); Nigerian Society of International Law(NSIL) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He is a visiting Professor (International Human Rights Law), Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada.
Dakas’ array of accomplishments in the academic, legal profession and politics, nationally and internationally, have placed Plateau State and Nigeria on the global scale of countries and states producing highly intellectual individuals.
His intimidating profiles and legendary accomplishments are praiseworthy, above all his firmly immense dispositions, unquestionable character and the uncommon passion for good governance he unveiled in his researches, speeches he delivered as guest speaker and other previous assignments have earned him the respect and confidence of the people desiring good governance and boundless transformations.
His exceptional humility and leadership qualities as well as exhibiting passionate patriotism in all the assignments given to him are boundless and considering his track record in providing excellence and model ideas on issues; Certainly his is a round peg in a round hole in any political office.
As 2023 approaches, it is the patriotic duty of those desiring qualitative leadership to search for a groundbreaker with proven track records of decorum, humanity, philanthropy, a leader who is outstanding, selfless and detribalized in his daily endeavour.
Here is a man who has proven that he will sacrifice all it takes to improve the lives of the people, a patriotic citizen, a meticulous leader, and above all, a team player. Such a gentleman is PROFESSOR DAKAS CLEMENT JAMES DAKAS, PhD, SAN.
