Barring any last-minute change, members of the 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 after which a new Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives would emerge.
Whilst there are legitimate concerns by the new law makers especially those in the ruling All Progressives Congress to reject any compromise plan that could lead to imposition of presiding officers on the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly particularly, billed for inauguration this month, some pro-ruling party association, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who has the interest of the party at heart, are already warning the party leadership not to plunge the party into crisis over the zoning of leadership offices of the federal legislature.
It is no longer news that legislative sovereignty, as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution, must not be hindered by unnecessary interference. The principle of separation of powers should guide the National Assembly, as it holds that the legislative body will elect or choose its leaders from among themselves, hence external interference in any form especially imposition will naturally not stand and this can’t be equated to anti party activity. Far from it.
Meanwhile, eight years ago, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in dilemma over the choice of the leadership of the National Assembly. The centre could no longer hold for the coalition that worked for APC to produce a political upset after it dethroned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre. A whiff of international contradictions deprived the party of taking advantage of having majority in the National Assembly and controlling the executive arm of government. Its preferred and endorsed candidate for the post of president of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives were asphyxiated by superior political intrigues. Is the party back to the same path as the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly is in a matter of days?
The above question has thrown many unbiased pundits into the conviction of saying yes; whilst also putting the benefits of the hindsight into consideration.
From the views of the political pundits, and judging from the well sampled opinions of the current deleveplment in the (yet to be inaugurated) parliament, they acknowledged the role money for logistics might play in the battle for the position, with the assumption that some contenders and their backers could boast of possessing the necessary war chest. The observers, particularly former members of the House also identified the reconfiguration in terms of members-elect for the 10th Assembly as capable of making the bid by APC to have its way this time more nerve-cracking.
There are also indications that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Peoples Party (YPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) now have more members-elect than the APC in the House. The change has become a veritable source of strength for the opposition party caucus as aggrieved APC aspirants for the post of speaker are poised for strong contention. The two tendencies are on the verge of ganging up against the APC choice for a historic contest in June when the National Assembly will be fully inaugurated.
Interestingly, the choice of a ranking member, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara now gains appreciable momentum in the 10th Assembly Speakership race, inspite of not offering any form inducement to those will legitimately elect him.
Betara, whose name has a good rhyme with the English word ”BETTER” is a Nigerian accountant, currently entrusted with a sensitive position of the Chairman of Appropriation Committee of the 9th Assembly. He was first elected to the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007 to represent the Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State in the North-eastern region of Nigeria.
He is a parliamentarian adjudged to have the cranial capacity, competence, influence, experience and political followership to pilot the affairs of the green chamber. Following the trend of current political affairs, it becomes imperative that the All Progressives Congress upholds the principle of natural justice, and equity, which it preaches, founded on reason, and zone the seat of Speaker to the North-East region in consonance with popular opinions and public acceptance which is the beauty of democracy.
Hon. Betara is more competent, accommodating, possesses excellent clarity of thought, and has better leadership skills to lead than other contenders and sentiments have to be put aside. More importantly, the survival of the legislature as an important arm of government made it imperative that competent hands are headhunted to be its leaders; not stooges, political neophytes or pretenders. May God bless Nigeria.
-Ajibulu is a public affairs analyst and publisher of online magazine, veracitydesk.com.ng
Email: emmanuelajibulu@gmail.com
