The campaign committee of Honourable Muktar Betara representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency has refuted and described as ill-motivated, sponsored and untruth, a report that the lawmaker’s aspiration to become the House of Representatives’ Speaker was driven by a group of people.
This was contained in a statement signed by Rt Hon Dickson Tarkighir, member-elect, Markurdi/Guma Federal constituency, who doubles as the Director General of the committee.
The statement said, “This ill-motivated and sponsored article which made it into the front pages of some national newspapers is shocking and disturbing, and obviously has one objective, which is to pitch this collective aspiration, the person of Honourable Betara and his teeming supporters against our political party, our leaders, our constituents and our broad based spectrum of well wishers among the entire returning and newly elected Members and indeed those outside.
“It must be clearly reiterated that Honourable Betara has an untainted, blemish free and enviable record of political party loyalty, the expression of which was the decision to, out of his free volition, step down for Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila in 2019 and wholesomely backed him to win and ultimately run a harmonious 9th assembly House of Representatives till date.
“Honourable Aliyu Muktar Betara has not and will not veer off this course.
“It need be clearly stated that his joining the 10th assembly Speakership race now is not fuelled by personal ambition, therefore lacks any iota of desperation that will inform working at variance with normal expectations of his political party.”
The statement reiterated that Betara’s commitment to the All Progressives Congress which made him join hands with party members led to the victory of the party at the polls across the nation.
Tarkighir stated further, “The Speakership race is a national one, that will naturally attract interests of many compatriots across all divides and inclination, definitely not excluding the Honourable Members Elect from other parties who also will have a say according to the fine details and principles of democracy.
“This Speakership aspiration recognises all these realities without compromising the expectations of his political party.
“The ultimate purpose and vision is to ensure that the 10th assembly House of Representatives will be one united, indivisible assembly that will work harmoniously with all arms of Government, particularly the Federal Government led by His Excellency, the President- Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to enable us meet the huge expectations of our countrymen and women.”
The statement therefore affirmed that Betara would emerge as the Speaker by divine providence, adding that his tenure would “promote a legislative dispensation that will accommodate all opinions in the larger interest of all Nigerians, in our journey to a stronger, more prosperous, indivisible, and united nation starting from the parliament”.