From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Member of House of Representatives, representing Ezza South/ Ikwo federal constituency of Ebonyi State, Chinedu Ogah, has said he has the support of his colleagues to be deputy speaker.
Ogah, who stated this, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, said if elected, he would work towards reconnecting the South East to the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics.
The APC recently announced it had settled for Tajudeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu as its preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker respectively.
However, while stating he was going ahead with his aspiration, he said apart from his contributions to the success of the APC, he also identified fully with the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, when it was not convenient for most persons in the South East to do so.
“My party leaders and constituents fully support my ambition. Moreover, my aspiration has wide support from the North, South East, South West and, indeed ,all parts of the country. And that is why all we are saying is let the process be open so that members-elect can freely make their choice. Let there not be any form of intimidation,let members vote their choice.
“Today in the South East, there is so much agitations in the area. And what we are talking about is about someone who can sit down with those youths and talk about these issues and bring those issues to the national stage for proper discussion.
“I am competent and I can freely move in any part of the East to meet our people, including the youths. I a m a grassroots man, I connect with the people.
“What we need in Nigeria is a leader that believes in the integration of the people of this country. And the position of House of Representatives deputy speaker needs such a unifying person and I fit this description very well.
“And I can assure you I have the support of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to become the deputy speaker of the 10th House of Representatives,” he said.