There are indications that a major division has emerged among the G7 aspirants vying for the position of Speaker ahead of the highly anticipated inauguration of the 10th House of Representatives.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the rift was triggered by a visit made by one of the contenders, Muktar Aliyu Betara, to President-elect Bola Tinubu in France.
Sources reveal that Tinubu, alongside Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, successfully persuaded Betara to step down in favour of Tajudeen Abbas, who has received the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the next Speaker.
This trip has left other aggrieved aspirants feeling excluded from the unfolding scheme, catching them off guard and provoking discontent, The Nation reports.
However, Betara has shown unwavering determination, vowing to take on Abbas in a head-to-head battle on June 13.
According to insiders, he is relying on the support of incoming members of the House from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to secure victory.
Meanwhile, the opposition lawmakers, under the collective banner of Greater Majority, clarified that they have not yet endorsed any candidate for the Speakership.
This visit to France has further deepened the cracks within the G7 camp.
In response, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase made a counter-move by welcoming the President-elect back to the country at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The G7 aspirants for the Speakership position include Wase, Betara, Adamu Yusuf Gagdi, Aminu Sani Jaji, Sada Soli, Miriam Onouha, and Ado Doguwa.
However, Doguwa publicly declared his support for Abbas on May 17, leading to his exit from the group.
The remaining six aspirants are in disarray and have been working behind the scenes to undermine Abbas’s chances.
A reliable source disclosed, “All is not well in the G7 or now G6 camp since Betara visited the President-elect in France. Other aspirants fear losing out in the power struggle if the APC and the President-elect succeed in securing Abbas’s election as the 10th Speaker.”
Another source explained, “Some of them feel that Betara received undue attention compared to the rest of them. They are asking themselves, ‘Why only Betara?’ For instance, Deputy Speaker Wase believes that his current position should have earned him the opportunity to meet Tinubu in France as well. But it seems Betara was singled out, and this has left Wase and Gagdi unhappy.”
“There is an underlying discontent among them, although they won’t voice it publicly since they have presented a united front to the Nigerian public, claiming to work towards a common goal. But when the chips are down, you will witness what happens,” the source added.
“Some of the G7 aspirants are like low-hanging fruits, just waiting to be harvested by the Tajudeen Abbas group. They desire recognition and a strong deal, eagerly awaiting an invitation from the President-elect for a meeting, as that would seal the deal. They will all fall in line,” the source concluded.
Despite pressure from influential figures such as Tinubu and Shettima, it is understood that Betara has remained resolute in his decision to compete against Abbas on June 13, the day of the House’s inauguration.
A highly-placed source shared, “Betara has not accepted the olive branch from the President-elect and the Vice President-elect. He claimed that he was persuaded to step down for the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, by Tinubu in 2019.
“He insisted on contesting even if it means he will lose. His confidence is buoyed by his war chest and the support of the members-elect from PDP and some opposition parties.
“His permutation is based on the likelihood of the emergence of Sen. Jibril Barau (from Kano in the North-West) as the Deputy President of the Senate. Since the election of the principal officers of the Senate will come first, Betara will capitalise on Barau’s victory to sway the House against Abbas, who is from the Northwest.”
The source said: “Betara has said that he sees nothing wrong in the Vice President and the Speaker emerging from the Northeast like the present situation in which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Gbajabiamila are from the Southwest”.
