10th NASS Speakership: Betara, a giant force to watch out for

By Christiana Ekpa

As the race for who succeeds Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the 10th House Representatives heats up, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, stands as a man to watch out for, though, he may be small in physical statue but so far possessed overwhelming qualities among his colleagues that stands him out for better chance to win the Speakership, if the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC eventually zoned the position to his area.
Betara who 95 percent of his colleagues described as being gentle, humble, and a man who knows the Job and sincere in all his dealings stand shoulders high as an unbeatable candidate to pilot the affairs of the Green Chamber in the 10th National Assembly.
The Lawmakers in the 9th Assembly and even the clerks of committees sings Betara’s praises as a great leader who takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.
Betara, a member representing Biu, Bayo, Kwaya Kusar, Shani Federal Constituency of Borno State in the House of Representatives, has no record of any scandals in his dealings with the members and agencies of government.
As the race for who becomes the next Speaker of the House of heats up, Betara has been considered as one lawmaker who has the legislative insight and has done very well in his leadership position.
In samples of opinion taken by our reporter about who stand the better chance for the Speakership position, Betara stands out, as a source who spoke with our reporter says Betara, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation “ is a golden fish that needs to be allowed to do the job for the betterment of the National Assembly and Nigeria”.
The Source said “You see that man Betara, he is a silent achiever who goes out of his way to get things done for the benefit of this country. You know how messed up our budget circle was before he turned it around to January to December, which is the least I can tell, I know he has done so many secret works in that Committee for the betterment of this country.
“When I speak of Betara, I am not just talking about just the Chairman of a Committee, I am talking about a man who has achieved so much for his people, 8th, 9th Assembly and Nigeria.
“Go to his place and see projects rising from quality roads, schools, training centers, water provisions, etc for yourself, I meant projects that seem impossible for a lawmaker to achieve. You should be aware that his people contributed money to purchase nomination form for him and again, agencies of government that were lagging behind are been upgraded because of his leadership style, he is a giant, silent achiever and watch out for him, if the race is Zone to his place” the source said.
Betara 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 Lawmaker, he has made giant strides in impacting many lives and contributed to the development of his fatherland through quality representation and impactful legislations, as well as changing the status of Agencies of Government.
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.