Speakership: APC’s zoning won’t affect my chances – Dogara

Rep Dogara, who is the House Services Committee Chairman, said virtues of justice and fairness should be the overall concern of the party than where a lawmakers comes from, insisting that Nigerians deserve to be given the change even in the National Assembly as promised to them by the president-elect.
He said the All Progressives Change (APC) emerged victorious at the recent general elections owing to its main thrust of bringing change to the Nigerian people, which could only be effective when there is a robust leadership in the National Assembly.
Dogara, in a press briefing where he disclosed his intention to run for the position yesterday in Abuja, said the North-East was the most backward in the country and therefore deserves the House speakership.
“My conviction to run for speaker derives from my belief that we have a lot to offer, working with my colleagues, in the House of Representatives, our colleagues in the Senate and the executive in getting this country on the path of progress and development.
“For us change means work. A lot of work has been done by the legislature in the past; we believe a lot more can still be done to take our parliament and the nation to the next level,” said Dogara, who was flanked by over 30 returning members-elect.
Asked whether APC’s zoning as well as similar demand by the North-East in the senate could bring about clash of interests, the lawmaker said there would not be any clash as the Senate runs its affairs independent of that of the House.
He warned that if individuals would begin to see the party as their own or the party begins to exert its interest over and above the overall change promised to Nigerians, it would signal the collapse of the party from within.
Dogara said his leadership, if selected  would concentrate on making the chamber a robust and independent one, which would promote equality among members and place premium on experience and career interests of the legislators.