…as Wase, others faults choice of Hon. Tajudeen Abass, by APC as consensus candidate
By Gift Chapi Odekina
Hon. Aliyu Betara represent the Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), has officially declared his intention to run for the office of the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives in Abuja on Monday despite his party’s decision on the matter.
Betara’s declaration comes after the ruling party announced that it has zoned the position of Speaker of the 10th House to Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna State) and Deputy to Hon. Benjamin Kalu (Abia State), and it was obvious that this decision of the party did not go down well with Members-elect.
Betara accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila of sponsoring someone who was not popular in the House to succeed him as the next Speaker.
Naijablitznews.com reports that Betara who is the incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation was joined by fellow contestants like Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Hon. Sani Jaji, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi among others in solidarity.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 8 officially zoned the Speaker to the North West, while the Deputy Speaker was zoned to the South East.
Meanwhile, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen (APC-Kaduna) was chosen to succeed Gbajabiamila in the 10th assembly while Rep Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) was chosen as the Deputy Speaker.
Reacting to the development at his declaration, Hon. Betara vowed to go ahead to contest for the position of the Speakers during his official declaration despite the zoning by the party.
According to him, it was a surprised to him when Gbajabiamila nominated Hon. Abass outside of all those seated at the declaration and had indicated interest.
“If today, the deputy Speaker of the House is contesting, the Chairman Appropriation is contesting, the Majority Leader is contesting, then who’s closer to the speaker”, he queried.
Among those who spoke was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, who faulted the choice of Hon. Tajudeen Abass, by the APC as its consensus candidate for speakership of the 10th Assembly called on lawmakers not to allow the parliament to be hijacked.
Wase said that arriving at a consensus required discussion by critical stakeholders and wide consultations, but none of that was done.
He said, “Again, I want to add that we are here to ensure the independence of the parliament. To ensure that we work together. Every Parliamentarian must rise to the occasion
“We will work as a term. We will not allow this parliament to be hijacked. We will not allow this parliament to be made a lame duck. I believe we are loyal to our country first. Loyal to our party and loyal to our people.
“When say you you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is that there have been mass consultations, people go to table for discussion. There is agreement. In this case, we just saw and we are hearing rumors, speculations that some people have been made consensus candidates.
” I don’t know whether that is the meaning of consensus. This place is very sacred. We must be Honourable in our action in defence of the federal republic if Nigeria.”
Also Doguwa who said the parliament must always be allowed to choose its leaders, noted that it is not for outsiders to decide who leads the House.
He stated, “One message I want to pass across is that the parliament is one institution that must always be allowed to choose own leaders.
“The business of our leadership should be solely our business and no other person’s business. In a situation where you have some people in whatsoever guise trying to decide our leadership, to form our leadership from outside without consulting us I think that should be seen as a mere failure.
” I remain available for consultations until that is done , every one will answer his father’s name.”
Other present at the declaration include the Niger State Governor-elect, Hon. Umaru Bago, a serving lawmaker and a close ally of Betara.
Members-elect from across party divides throng the venue of Betara declaration at Lagos/Osun hall of the Transcorp Hilton.
