From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Member of the House of Representatives representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State Chinedu Ogah has said he has the overwhelming support of his colleagues to be the deputy speaker of the House in the 10th Assembly.
Ogah, who stated this, while speaking with journalists, in Abuja, said if elected deputy speaker of the 10th House, he would work towards reconnecting the South East to the mainstream of Nigeria politics.
The All Progressives Congress ( APC) recently announced that it has settled for Tajudeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu as its preferred candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker respectively.
However, Ogah, while stating that he is going ahead with his aspiration, said apart from his massive contribution 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.
According to him, “My party leaders and constituents fully support my ambition. Moreover, my aspiration has wide support from the North, Southeast, Southwest and indeed all parts of the country. And that is why all we are saying is that 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. “
Ogah added “Today is the Southeast there is so much agitation in the area. And what we are talking about is 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 am a grassroots man, I connect with the people.
“What we need in Nigeria today is a leader that believes in the integration of the people of this country. And the position of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives needs such a unifying person and I fit this description very well.
“And I can assure you that I have the support of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to become the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives. “