By Christiana Ekpa
House of Representatives member, Hon . Inuwa Garba (PDP-Gombe), has disclosed that most returning/members-elect are supporting Rep. Aliyu Betara as the speaker of the 10th National assembly because he has all the qualities and requirements to give Nigerians and lawmakers what they deserve.
This was just as the former Governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari disclosed that nobody has the constitutional right to chose leaders for the elected Members of the 10th Assembly, adding that he and his colleagues have exclusive power to decide those who lead them
Garba who disclosed this at the induction venue for members-elect in Abuja on Monday, said “most of us in the 9th Assembly and even the elected Members believe that Aliyu Betara has the leadership quality to give to Nigerians what we want in the 10th House of Representatives.
He said chosen the speaker that would preside over plenary should be based on track record, experience and commitment.
He said the focus of the “Greater Majority,” a coalition of minority parties of all members-elect was to have a purposeful leadership, adding that Betara stand tall based on his antecedent.
He said such purposeful leadership was needed for the 10th Assembly, adding that this would bring all members together for a good working relationship.
“Nigeria is already in a serious problem and to come out of this problem start and end with having good leadership.
“Once many of us from the opposition party see reason to team up with somebody from the ruling party, you should know that such a person will be committed. “
He further said that such person would have the will to carry all members along irrespective of party affiliation, stressing that this would also come with a good understanding of the tenets legislature.
He however added that the ultimate beneficiary of such relationship would be the executive arm of government.
He said, “Majority of us in the Greater Majority group have endorsed Betara for the position and I can assure you that if today, we go in for the contest, Betara will be the Speaker.
“ His Speakership will be the gain of Nigerians. For somebody to choose a Speaker for us is a miss normal, undemocratic and unconstitutional.
“ We will vote for the person that will do justice to Nigerians and I can assure you that the next Speaker of the House of Reps is Betara.
Also speaking, Rep Cyril Hart (PDP- Rivers) , said the constitution was cleared on the procedure that should be adopted as members to elect presiding officers.
According to him, I share the sentiment that the majority party should produce the leadership of the House even though I am of the PDP.
He however said that the agitation on who becomes the speaker would soon be rested, adding that in the end, Nigeria would get the best out of it, “so, there is no course for alarm because it is all politics.”
“The contest is free and anyone is free to contest, but my simple opinion is that the majority party, the APC with the highest number of members elect should produce the leadership.
He said the contest was an APC affair and they should be allowed to produce the leadership of the 10th Assembly.
“So, whatever they are doing is their business, I am only praying that the best emerges, what you are seeing is politics.
“The dust will settle and at the end of the day, Nigerians will get the best. So, no course for alarm,” he said.
Yari said, That is not correct. How can I go against my party. If you listen to the lecture, you discover that the lawyer said that nobody has the constitutional right to choice leaders for us. It is a kind of an exclusive power for me and my colleagues to decide our leaders.
“Was I wrong when I say I want to be chosen ? I don’t see anything wrong in that because I an exercising my constitutional right. I am not kicking against my party or any one. What I am saying is that I want to get the indulgence of my colleagues to trust me and hire me and that if I did something wrong somewhere along the line, they can fire me. The hiring and firing is the exclusive responsibility of members of the National Assembly. But I am not stopping anyone.
“The checks and balances expected from the 10th Assembly depend on the kind of Assembly we have and the kind of atmosphere. But the checks and balances. I believe that the 9th Assembly has done it’s best and we will do our best. We are saying tye checks and balances should be for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians” he stressed
Also speaking, Hon. Ugo chinyere said
“I believe that the independence of the parliament is an important foundation for any progress that will be recorded. At the same time, stability and harmonious co-existence is also very important if we must achieve what we promised our people out there. Right now, there seems to be so much confusion. But in the says ahead, after consulting party leaders, one can speak clearly on this divisions and this contest Viz a vis the need for an independent parliament, the need for stability and the need for harmonious co-existence.
