10th Speakership: More trouble for APC’s zoning, as Southern Borno group kicks

**Says it is Betara’s turn, he will not step down for any reason

Against the zoning formula of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that has ceded the speakership position for the 10th House of Representatives to the North West, the Conference of Southern Borno Development Associations have said it is the turn of their son Honorable Muktar Aliyu Betara who they said has paid his dues.
Recall the the ruling party had annoited Tajudeen Abbas as the choice of the party ahead of the inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives in June.
A staunch member of the Association Hon Sherif Muhammad Nur who spoke at a press conference addressed in Abuja on Wednesday said Betara
will not step down, adding that it doesn’t matter what the party says, it the members-elect of the House that will nominate and vote for whom they believe is most qualified.
“We do not see any reason for him to be asked to step down, Betara a legislator per excellence, young, he has the intellect and the capacity to lead the 10th House of Assembly
“For the first time Borno will have a Speaker. It doesn’t matter whether the Vice President is from the same zone”
Addressing the Press conference the chairman of the Association Ambassador Dauda Danladi said they were using the Press Conference to demonstrate their total support to Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu’s aspirations for election as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He said they are also craving the indulgence of the chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC), returning and elected new members-elect of the house to give Hon. Betara Aliyu the chance to lead 10thHouse of Representatives.
“10” National Assembly requires a leader with leadership qualities, respect for democratic principles and due process as well as unparalleled commitment and dedication to duty, which Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu has exhibited. He has a high flair for uplifting the standard of living of Nigerians especially those at the grassroots.
“The evidence of the leadership qualities and the milestones Hon. Betara has achieved since he was first elected into the House of Representatives are valid reference points.
“We wish, at this stage, to commend the leadership and members of the House of Representatives, who turned out en-mass to the occasion of the declaration ceremony of Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu’s aspiration for election as Speaker of the House of Representatives which took place at Transcorp Hotel on Monday, 8 May, 2023.
“We were befuddled by the encomiums poured on the competence, dexterity, acquired institutional knowledge and depth of understanding of the workings of the National Assembly gamered by Hon. Betara Altyu.
“This much was stated by the Deputy Speaker of the House Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase who technically chaired the occasion.
“Other high ranking members of the House who corroborated the Statements by the Deputy Speaker indlude the majority leader Hon. Ado Alhassan Doguwa, Majority Chief Whip of the House, Hon. M.T. Monguno (who is now moving to the Senate) among others who equally expressed strong support for the candidature of Hon. Betara Aliyu as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Because of the approval of his purposeful representation, members of his constituency together with his other well wishers in Bomo State and other parts of the country raised the money required for his nomination form to contest in 2023 elections through Voluntary donations
“We wish to state without any fear of contradiction that the love exhibited to Hon. Betara by people of his constituency Is neither accidental nor overstated. It is a natural response and appreciation of the extent to which he has added value to their lives.
“Indeed, within a decade of his stewardship in the house, Hon. Betara Aliyu has initiated the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that has put his constituency on the path to rapid social and economic transformation.
“Again, within his short span as member of the House, he has contributed to the development of his constituency in a variety of ways such as urban road network, installation of streets lights, rehabilitation or construction of educational institutions, Primary health care centres, environmental protection, rural electrification, skill acquisition centers, women empowerment, mini stadium, just to mention but a few.
He indicated that Hon Aliyu’s contributions extended beyond his primary constituency to other parts of the country.
“For instance, Hon. Betara initiated the establishment of cancer centers in all the six geo political zones, eight (8) in number which are at various stages of completion, with the one cited at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital already completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Hon, Muktar Betara Aliyu is a detribalized Nigerian who is at peace with all men and women of goodwill regardless of their ethnic, tribal, religious or geopolitical backgrounds.
This he said explains why his supporters cut across the diversities that characterize the Nigerian state and further.