Abuja, -Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives says the leadership of the house is working earnestly to ensure the resolution of the lingering crisis over the allocation of the principal offices.
Dogara gave the assurance while addressing members of the APC Mobilisation Youth Forum led by Ismaila Ahmed, who protested against the division of the APC members in the lower legislative chambers.
The Speaker said that the ongoing crisis which centred on the need for fairness in the sharing of offices was a challenge that resulted from the victory of the APC after the 2015 general elections.
“We are determined to resolve it and ensure we carry everybody along.”
“One thing I can assure you as a loyal member of the party is that we have differences, and it’s only normal, especially in a political setting.
“There is no perfect human institution out there, and certainly we don’t expect our great party, APC to be perfect.
“Every member who by virtue of being human is not a perfect being and we are not angels.
“So, this certainly will not be the end of issues that we are going to experience as a party, certainly it’s not going to be.’’
“As leaders, we have to rise above issues and not allow issues like this to consume us.’’
The Speaker said that everything was being done in conjunction with the leaders of the party to ensure that by the time the house reconvened all pending issues would have been dealt with.
“I can assure you that is the only way we can get things right. I don’t see these things as major crisis as you rightly pointed out.
“Things must change, that is the mantra of the APC, it was on that basis that many people abandoned the comfort of their homes to come and vote for us to be here.
“So, we understand the expectations on the part of Nigerians not only APC supporters alone,’’ he said.
“As soon as I leave this meeting, I am going for another meeting so that we can continue to work to accommodate all.
“I hope we should be able to bury our differences so that when we resume announcement will be made for the remaining four leadership positions in the House of Representatives.
“I am speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives; I am not holding brief for the Senate. But I sincerely believe that by the time we resume this matter will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Dogara stressed the need for all stakeholders to jettison personal interests in the bid to ensure that the party earned public confidence.
He said that issues of corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, unemployment, under-employment, poor remuneration, erratic power supply, need for foreign investment and diversification of economy, among others should be put in the front burner.
Earlier, Ismaila Ahmed, President of APC Mobilisation Youth Forum, who expressed displeasure over the crisis in the National Assembly, urged the lawmakers to resolve the crisis before July 21.
“We are not happy about it because seated here are people that have worked individually and collectively for the success of this party, some on the social media, and some on the tweeter among others.
“The most important thing is that people have invested their time, resources, emotions and energy to make sure that God gave us a victory.
“We want a functional national assembly, meaning that the House must be put in order,” he said. (NAN)
