Betara: I’m Surprised Gbajabiamila Nominated Someone Else for Speaker

•Wins support of north east forum

Udora Orizu in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

One of the leading aspirants for the speakership position of the 10th National Assembly, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu (APC, Borno), has expressed shock over the choice of the All Progressives Congress candidate for House of Representatives speaker.

Batara’s reaction is coming on the heels of his endorsement for the position of Speaker by North East Forum.

Currently about eleven serving lawmakers are jostling for the number four seat in the country. They are Hon. Idris Wase, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, Hon. Sada Soli, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Hon. Makki Yalleman.

However, on Monday, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party,announced zoning the speakership to the North West with the choice of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (APC-Kaduna) and the Deputy Speaker’s slot to the South East with Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) as its choice.

Betara, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, spoke on the development and accused the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila of sponsoring Abbas, whom he described as unpopular in the House as against the leading aspirants.

According to Betara, Gbajabiamila despite being a friend nominated Abass outside of ranking lawmakers like himself, Wase, Doguwa, Gagdi and other leading aspirants.

“The deputy speaker we came in together, we have been close and I think I am the best friend to the deputy speaker, when we came in the 6th Assembly. We have been in one family, we are together but because of politics, sometimes, he will on the other side and I will be on the other side. But today we are together for this movement. When I invited him, he joined me today for my declaration here. He honoured it and my DS (Deputy Speaker), I am very grateful for the honour you gave me today.

“For my brother Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, I remember when Hon. Gudaji went for his declaration, he said Betara is one man that doesn’t say no and why I cannot say no to my colleagues is sometimes when your colleague comes to you, he needs your assistance, if I can not provide all, at least I can do small. That is the main reason I cannot say no.

“As the engine room of the legislature, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila gave me a name, he calls me the ‘Head Boy’. I was surprised for my friend, my boss, to nominate one person outside all of us here. If today the deputy speaker of the House is contesting, the chairman Appropriation is contesting, the majority leader is contesting, then who is closer to the Speaker? So nobody. He is bringing one person that members of the 9th Assembly, I can tell you some of us don’t even know the person – a lot of us,” he said.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the aggrieved aspirants may present a consensus candidate among them, despite the APC zoning.

Some of the leading aspirants attended Betara’s declaration and faulted the choice of the chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Tajudeen Abass, by the APC as its consensus candidate for speakership of the 10th House.

Wase specifically said Abbas was not known to the members of the House, calling on his colleagues not to allow the parliament to be hijacked.

Speakership Race: North East Forum Endorses Betara

Meanwhile, a group known as the North-East Elders and Youths Peoples Forum (NEYPF), has endorsed the member-elect representing Biu, Bayo, Shani and Kwaya Kusar constituency in Borno State, Hon Muktar Aliyu Betara for the position of Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

National President of the forum, Alhaji Salihu Magaji, who made the appeal during a press conference in Bauchi, yesterday, said the elders, youths and peoples forum declared their support for the speakership position to come to the north east and endorsed Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara for the position.

“This shows that the amount of love in our hearts for this great personality is dormant. Hon. Aliyu Betara, a leader and elder, organiser and mobiliser. Betara has the encyclopedic knowledge of the house and the country at large and also has the capacity and knowledge to steer the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives very well.

“The Forum appealed to the party to zone the speakership to the North, in particular, north east, in order to balance the zoning structure and we endorsed Betara for the following reasons.

“Betara has vast knowledge in legislative appearances and leadership. As a chairman on appropriations, he succeeded in having the June-June budget cycle changed to a repairable January to December one for a more effective budget implementation.

“He created job opportunities to over 4,500 beneficiaries across the nation and relates with people in respect of religion, ethnicity or tribe. Nigeria is indeed lucky to have person like Betara, who is detribalized and leader with vision and passion for the development of Nigeria”

“Nigerians are always happy with Betara’s decision and crises management skills in the house. Betara as a young man with talent, has proved his worth in societal development. Nigeria needed a team player like Betara as the 10th speaker of the House, to build on the achievements of Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of 9th Assembly.

“We are confident that Betara has the ability to carry all lawmakers along in spite of political and party differences because a lot of new members will be coming into the house. Therefore, Betara will be a perfect fit as the country’s next speaker because of his long legislative experience.”