By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja 

Minority Parties in the House of Representatives, under the aegis of minority Caucus, have indicated the intention to determine who would occupy the prestigious seats of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the 10th House of Representatives.

The caucus, which goes by its slogan, greater majority, has the number to pursue it’s intention and has held a follow up meeting ahead of the inauguration on June 13.

The lawmakers who attended the meeting were from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP) Youth Progressive Party (YPP), and New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP).

In his address the leader of the minority caucus, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi who congratulated all the members of the Minority Parties for the successes so far, urged them to stay together for their common good.

According to him, the meeting was organised “to enable us to access the work we have done in our various zones”.

 He reminded the members on the news to stay focused and not be distracted.

The leader of the Labour Party who spoke on behalf of the South East Caucus, Hon George Ozodinobi, said that the South East members of the Minority Caucus have resolved to change the narrative.

He noted that the south east caucus has resolved to follow where other caucus members has aligned with to have a new Nigeria.

” We are in totally witt the greater minority. Our majorly is yo have a new Nigeria and that new Nigeria, we are urging other caucuses to join id to have a new Nigeria”. Hon Ozodinobi said. 

While urging all the Minority Caucuses to remain united Oluwole Oke, said that the South West is fully aligned with the decisions of the caucuses.

“We are committed to this unity, to this progress, to this understanding that we shall work together to deliver to Nigerians the dividends of democracy. That we shall live up to the expectations of section four of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria”. Hon Oke said.

Agbedi reiterated that the South West caucus was committed to giving their various parties the proper image based on their mandates.

From the North East, Hon. Awalu Gwadabe, said that the tenth assembly was unique as the rolling party does not have the highest number of members.

” Today, the tenth national assembly as well as and the party that is rulling the country does not have two neither we as the greater minority. I believe we are going to give the rulling party a very serious challenge in the National Assembly once we stand united together irrespective of our party affiliations”. Hon Gwadabe said.

He added that the north east caucus would make its position known in a matter of days.

The north central zone, represented by Hon Pastor Ojena, said that for the greater minority to succeed, members mist put aside their personal interests.

He said that to achieve the desired goal, members mist work as a team.

Other speakers from other zones also pledged to help the caucus to succeed.

On her part, Hon Lilian Orogbu

re-echoed the inclusion of women in the mainstream of affairs of the National Assembly.

She also said that the issues of women in parliament must be respected.

“We are here to support this initiative. We are here to support the agenda wr are here to support the ideology and we  crave for more involvement of women in this group”. Hon Orogbu said.

On their part, members of the North West caucus represented by Hon. MD Shehu, said that the zone was in on the ideas of the greater minority caucus.

He added that all members must have the sincerity of purpose in the journey.

The moderator of the meeting, Hon. Dachung Bago’s (PDP-Plateau) introduced members of the caucus who joined after the supplementary election.

At the end of the meeting, the greater minority caucus resolved to contest for the speakership and other positions in the 10th Assembly.

It also set up an eleven man committee to scout for a suitable members from the caucus that will contest for the key positions.