10th Speakership: Northeast Group Urges Betara To Step Down For Abbas

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi

The North East Advancement for Good Governance has called on Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara in the name of patriotism and national cohesion to step down his aspiration for Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas to ensure the smooth take off of the Asiwaju Bola led-administration. 

Addressing a press conference the president of the group in Bauchi on Sunday, Hamza Ukkasha GCNY, said for justice, fairness and equity, they agreed to join other leaders and the party leadership in their decision to zone the office of the Speaker to North West.

The group said, “As one of the frontline advocate for equitable distribution of power between the North and the South, which we earliest this year mobilized voters to go South, we have once again agreed and are calling on all party faithfuls particularly the members elect to join and see a balance in the decision of the All Progressive Congress which is both instructive and inclusive as supreme.”

Ukkasha said that considering that APC and President-elect gave the Northeast zone the opportunity to produce the vice President-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, for national unity and social cohesion, there is a need for Northeast to allow other zone to produce the Speaker. 

He said the decision of the National Working Committee of APC under the leadership of Senator Abdullahi Adamu after a wide consultation with the rank and files within the ruling APC including the president-elect is highly commendable.

“As a party loyal members who have given it all through the ruling All Progressive Congress, the need for all party faithfuls to join the decision of the Party and the President elect to have Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot be overemphasized.”

According to him, Hon Abbas Tajuddeen is one Nigerian blessed with multiple competencies having sponsored over 78 bills, “He is a legislator with good track records of history that has been achieved beyond the expectations of Zaria Federal Constituency. His nomination and subsequent endorsement by the Party and the President-elect is a demonstration of his commitment and loyalty to the ruling party and its leaders.”

“Abbas endorsement and that of Hon. Ben Kalu who has been  a stabiliser in the party and in the South East is coming at the right time considering the multi-dimensional democratic challenges confronting the nation which requires sound legislative agenda to drive the country forward the qualities that Hon. Abbas represents.”

“Both above mentioned are household names within their regions and they represent the characters that the next President needs to achieve his renew hope for Nigerians and Nigeria,” Ukkasha added.

He also said Abbas/Kalu ticket is the best in view of their good track records, loyalty and contributions to the success of the ruling All Progressive Congress at all levels which earned them this trust of the party hierarchy particularly the president-elect.

The group therefore called on other aspirants not to be aggrieved but to join Abbas/Kalu ticket to support the incoming President Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu in achieving his renew hope for the Nigerian people.

“We hereby reject the inconsiderate ambition of Hon. Betra, who though a verse legislator, must recognise that Executive and Legislative balance in power sharing requires sacrifice and the North East that was well favoured in the outgoing administration including the incoming government cannot be seen as selfish and divisive.”