Some of the members-elect of the incoming 10th House of Representatives across political parties have backed Rep Aliyu Muktar Betara to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly billed for June, there have been high-level consultations and alliances by the interested actors in the Speakership race of the House.
Betara, who is the current chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations representing Biu/Kwaya federal constituency of Borno State is said to be enjoying support among members-elect.
The lawmaker, who is returning to the House for the fifth time, will be contesting the speakership alongside the current deputy Speaker Idris Wase and others who have indicated their intention.
Daily Trust gathered that many members-elect across the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; the Labour Party, LP; the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Advance Democratic Party, ADC and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, are working hard to deliver Betara.
Some of the ranking lawmakers, who are in the know of the happenings, said the response of the members-elect on Betara’s aspiration has been positive.
One of the member-elect from the ruling APC who spoke, said: “I want to tell you categorically that if the election into the office of Speaker is conducted today on the floor, no one will beat Betara. He enjoys the support of the majority of his returning colleagues and the new members.”
“We are also excited about his candidature because of what we got to know about him. As members familiar with the workings of the National Assembly having worked there severally; we can confirm to you that Betara has a very high acceptability rating among the members. What members want is someone accessible, respectful, intelligent, knowledgeable, humble and kind.
“Members are looking up to an individual who is a bridge builder across political, religious and ethnic divides and who has the stuff to bring us together. We don’t want someone who will be more on one side than the other. Betara has been a true friend of his colleagues. He is generous and compassionate to a fault”, the lawmaker wouldn’t want his name mentioned said.
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