Betara as Suitable Candidate for 10th N’Assembly Speakership

Udora Orizu highlights the qualities possessed by Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Aliyu Betara, that makes him to stand shoulders high as suitable candidate to pilot the affairs of the Green Chamber in the 10th National Assembly.

Former First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter, once said a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.

An author, William Arthur Ward, said the mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher “Inspires.”

The above quotes can be used to describe a member representing Biu, Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betara.

As the race for who becomes the next Speaker of the House of Representatives heats up, Betara is one lawmaker who has the legislative insight and has done very well in his leadership position.

Betara who’s the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation is a golden fish that needs no introduction.

He was born on 22nd November 1966 into a large family. His father was a civil servant heading several community councils while his mother was a devoted housewife.

Betara began his education at Biu Central Primary School in 1973 and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1978. He proceeded to Biu Central Junior Day Secondary School, and then to Government Technical Secondary School Benishek, Borno State, where his leadership skills saw him becoming head prefect, and would eventually obtain his West Africa School Certificate in 1983.

He advanced his education at Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri where he obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration.

He made his foray into politics when he contested for the House of Representatives seat on the platform of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and got elected as the member representing the people of Biu, Kwaya Kusar, Bayo and Shani Federal Constituency in 2007.

Since then, he has been re-elected three times, emerging as one of the few members to have served in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth assemblies in Nigeria, with the current and immediate past tenures secured on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

For the 2023 poll, Honourable Betara has been overwhelmingly returned unopposed by his constituents and the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders to fly the party’s flag given his sterling representations at the Green Chamber since 2007.

For him to have been returned unopposed at a time when there’s high turnovers of lawmakers who lost their return tickets during the last primaries, showed how popular and impactful he has been among his constituents.

He’s so loved by his constituents that they contributed money to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms for him. Market women, artisans, and youth came out in their numbers to surprise him with this.

He’s no doubt, one of the very hardworking lawmakers who has made valuable contributions to the House right from the 6th Assembly to the current 9th Assembly where he headed key House Committees such as Army (7th Assembly), Defence (8th Assembly) and Appropriations (9th Assembly).

Over the years, his efforts have been duly noted even in the Presidency as could be attested to by the recent conferment of the prestigious Officers of the Order of the Niger (OON) National Honour Award on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

As a federal legislator, he has made giant strides in impacting many lives and contributed to the development of his fatherland through quality representation and impactful legislations.

Betara conceived his Speakership ambition in 2019, but on compassionate grounds, he stepped aside and fully supported, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to emerge as Speaker.

If the APC national leadership zones the Speakership position to the North-East, this parliamentary veteran possesses the qualities for the job. He will definitely pilot the affairs of the green chamber well and run a fair, just legislative administration.