Yakubu Dogara, House of Representatives Speaker, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately constitute the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) so that the region can be developed and the people there reintegrated.
Dogara, who spoke at constituency empowerment programme organised by Binta Bello, Deputy Minority Whip in Kaltungo, Gombe State on Tuesday, also urged the electorate to vote for candidates that would work conscientiously towards their development and well-being.
He added that religious and tribal sentiments could becloud one’s ability to choose performing representatives if used as yardstick for voting.
Dogara stressed that having learnt that the secret to having a performing representatives was to choose one who could work for the growth and progress of his or her people irrespective of tribe or religion, his constituents re-elected him thrice, thus, positioned him for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He maintained that as a result of that, not only had Bauchi State benefitted from his being Speaker, even the entire North-East had witnessed it too, with the most notable achievement being the creation of the North-East Development Commission, NEDC, which he personally sponsored.
The speaker said: “In my own constituency, there was a time that it was said that no member would ever be elected twice. It’s a constituency consisting of more than 10 tribes in three local governments areas and comprising of adherents of both faith; Christian and Muslim, almost in equal number.
“So, it is always very difficult in times of election to escape all the traps. If you escape the trap of tribalism, you will face the trap of religious sentiments. But, I tell you, because I have done fairly well in my representation, the entire people, whether Christian or Muslim, have accepted the fact that what they know in the government of Nigeria is that seat of House of Representatives.
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“So, when it comes to my election, they put religion aside, they put tribalism aside, they returned me three times and that is why today, I am the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“By that singular position, it is not only Bauchi State or my constituency that has benefitted, even the entirety of the North-East has benefitted from that position because I can tell you here that if we had not put our feet on the ground, there is no way we would have come up with the North-East Development Commission.
“It is on account of the commission that God answered our prayer, even though the commission has not been constituted by Mr. President. We are again, today, calling in very strong voice, that he should immediately constitute that commission so that we really develop and integrate our people in the North-East.”
He urged the people of Gombe South Senatorial District to vote for Binta Bello, who he said had the yearnings of her people at heart and had been doing well in the National Assembly to the extent that she emerged as the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives.
