10th NASS Speakership: Group canvasses support for Betara

A group in the House of Representatives, known as New Vision Nigeria, New Vision, has unanimously endorsed Mr. Muktar Aliyu Betara for the seat of the Speaker of the lower chamber in the National Assembly.

Addressing journalists in Gombe after their meeting, leader of New Vision, New Nigeria, a member-elect Representing Toro Federal Constituency from Bauchi State, Mr. Dabo Isma’il, said the resolution came about after the successful hosting of a meeting members from the North East, after they held similar meetings in the South East and South West.

Mr. Isma’il said the resolved that only Mr. Betara fitted the description of an ideal leaders of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, amongst all the candidate that vied for the seat, because he had what it takes to pilot and direct and coordinate the affairs of the Lower Chamber of the national legislature.

He said the group is made up all newly elected members from all political parties in the House of Representatives, who had all agreed to support Mr. Betara, after wide consultations within themselves and with other critical stakeholders.

According to him, the search for the next Speaker of the House of Representatives was narrowed down to Mr. Betara, he proved himself worthy of the position, after all the contestants discussed their vision for Nigeria.

Mr. Isma’il said the group was in Gombe to continue with their consultations, after visiting the South East, South West and now in the North East of Nigeria, where members from the zones agreed to support the candidature of Mr. Betara.

“We have all agreed after our meeting Betara will be supported from this region, irrespective of political party and any other reason. We will all come together as one and support him. And by the Grace of God, we are all out for him. You can members from different parts of this country from the eastern part of the country, from the West, everywhere, we are here,” said Mr. Isma’il.

He said the meeting agreed that politics was about consultation and as such the group would work with the new government, especially the president-elect and support him in actualizing his dream of reforming Nigeria.

According to Mr. Isma’il, Nigeria is in a critical condition and such needed the right people to carry out the various functions of Nigeria’s economy, saying “with the Speaker, we hope, having known his past antecedence, his past records, he is capable of making the National Assembly work, make good budget for the government, pass budget on time, embark on critical oversight functions and to also make laws that will bring sanity to this country.”

He said it was necessary to produce a very strong leader in the House of Assembly, because a lot was expected of the incoming legislature.

Mr. Isma’il particularly emphasised the reason for supporting Mr. Betara, was that he was being support by the New Vision, New Nigeria Group, irrespective of political, regional, religion or any other affiliation.

He is hopeful the Mr. Betara would win the seat of the speaker in the 10th Assembly, while pledging that the New Vision Group would, after the formation of the 10th Assembly, continue to function in the National Assembly, so as to serve the interest of Nigerians.

Mr. Isma’il said that would be necessary, because the support for the emergence of Betara as Speaker in the House of Assembly, was just one of its many agenda, which it would present to the Executive Arm of Government for the needed reforms in Nigeria.

On the choice of Betara, even though the Vice President-Elect is from the same state, Mr. Isma’il said that would not be an issue, because at present, the Vice Present and the Speaker of the House of Assembly were both from Lagos State, saying what matters is the result and good representation.

“Nigerians should be talking about good leadership, good representation. Not issue of region or where you come from. We should face our problems head-on and resolve our problems. Issue of that is not in the National Assembly, we are not looking at that at all. We are looking at competence and somebody that can manage the National Assembly effectively and efficiently,” Mr. Isma’il said.

Mr. Betara is member of the House Representatives, Representing Biu-Bayo-Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency in Borno State.
He was first elected as in 2007, is now going for his 5th term as a Federal Legislator in the House of Representatives.