“Because you came, because of your sacrifice, I want to announce to you that I will run to once again represent our constituency. I will soon come to meet you at home to make this formal. I was almost tired, having been doing the same thing for almost 12 years now," Dogara said.
Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said although he initially considered leaving the house after spending more than 10 years, he will recontest for his seat in the National Assembly.
He stated this on Tuesday while addressing his constituents, who thronged his Abuja home to ask him to recontest the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency seat.
In a post on his personal blog, Dogara, said he was overwhelmed by the show of solidarity from his supporters, noting that because of their "sacrifice", he will once again represent them.
His words: “Some people said they will retire us from politics, but we want to inform them that only God and the electorate can retire us.
“Because you came, because of your sacrifice, I want to announce to you that I will run to once again represent our constituency. I will soon come to meet you at home to make this formal.
“I am shocked and surprised because I never thought or imagined that when I woke up today, I will see this mammoth crowd in my house. I am seeing faces of people we started this journey with since 2007. I pray God rewards you for this sacrifice. I was almost tired having been doing the same thing for almost 12 years now.
“But in recent days, I started hearing some rumours and some people were already celebrating that I won’t run again. Nobody can impose leadership on you. Only you, our people, can choose who will represent you.
“I want to assure you that whatever you want us to do, that is what we will do. Those who have said that they will retire us from politics, I want to tell them that we have just begun."
He also restated his commitment to attracting development to the area, and creating opportunities for the people to thrive.
In their separate addresses, leaders of the group, Alhaji Murtala Miyetti Allah, Mrs Keziah Dare and Mr Bulus Iliya Bully said they came on behalf of the people of the constituency to appeal to the Speaker to seek re-election.