More dramas have continued to unfold over who will emerge as Speaker House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly as some members-elect kicked against the endorsement of Hon Tajudeen Abbass by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Tuesday night, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila announced to the lawmakers that will form the 10th National assembly that the President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will issue a directive to all contestants for the position of speaker to withdraw from the race and support Tajudeen Abbass.
This announcement was met with stiff opposition from members-elect who insisted that they should be allowed to choose who becomes the Speaker of the lower chamber and not have candidates imposed on them by political parties.
Gbajabiamila was accompanied by Tajudeen Abbass as he addressed the Members-elect at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
The Speaker reportedly said the President-Elect will prevail on other contestants to step-down for the candidate he has endorsed to become speaker.
Gbajabiamila told the Lawmakers that the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has promised to invite Muktar Betara who is a leading contestant for the position of speaker and advise him to step-down for Tajudeen Abbass who as his preferred choice for the position of Speaker.
This decision caused so much discontent among lawmakers, many of who claim the move is undemocratic and will also impede on the independence of the legislature, and also promote the existence of a rubber stamp national assembly.
The lawmakers said they are united behind the choice of a popular candidate because they believe he has the best credentials fit for the office of speaker and he also enjoys tremendous support from other lawmakers in the parliament.
Recall that recently, a member-elect representing Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency, Cross River, Peter Akpanke, after a meeting with some members-elect from different political parties, said members of the group have been moving across the country to garner support for Hon Betara.
He said after meeting with most of the contenders for the Speakership position, only Betara showed sincere commitment to work with the executive arm in solving the mirage of challenges bedevilling the country.
Akpanke, said: “We have had an interface with all the people running for speakership in the 10th assembly. We met with all of them one-on-one but we chose Betara because when we met him, he spoke the minds of the members and how the 10th assembly is going to be independent. He also spoke on how projects are going to get to federal constituency, how budgets are going to be executed and how he will collaborate with the executive to make sure that projects are funded, issue of insecurity and employment are tackled, all for the betterment of Nigerians.
“So the new vision group decided to stand behind him. We’ve been going round the geopolitical zones to interface and lobby members-elect to support this cause. So in the meeting with our colleagues from South-South, all of us resolved that no matter the pressure, we should support Betara based on his antecedents. He has been Chairman, Army committee, and we saw how the committee rose from Grade C to get Grade A. He is currently the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation and since then, there has been nothing like budget padding.
While insisting that the lawmakers would vehemently reject imposition of Speaker, Akpanke said the National Assembly is an independent arm and members must be allowed to chose their leaders.
Also, Hon. Inuwa Garba, a Member-Elect, Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency, Gombe state, said the argument in some quarters that the Northeast cannot produce both the Vice president and Speaker at same time was laughable.
Garba, who is a PDP member, said: “That argument is laughable. History is there for us to see. This is not the first time that will be happening. In 1979-1983 the Speaker of the House of Representatives is from Anambra State, and the Vice President also is from Anambra state. We have same thing now. The Vice President is from the Southwest, likewise the Speaker. So there is a precedent.
The members-elect insisted that facts Hon Muktar Betara has been the stabilising force in the 9th National Assembly, and he is the choice for the position of Speaker.
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