A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba has described the alleged plan by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to impose Hon Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly as dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
He said it is an anomaly, undemocratic, and a grave danger to democracy.
Nalaraba made the statement at a press conference in Abuja over the alleged super-imposition of a member as a candidate in a democratic setting.
He said his preferred candidate for the position of speakership; Hon Mukhtar Aliyu Betara is unbeatable if there is room for a free and fair contest.
Nalaraba, who is a returning member of the House of Representatives, representing Awe, Doma and Keana federal constituency said: “Members of the House of Representatives are democrats who have been elected on the platform of registered political parties.
“We are elected by our constituents to come, deliberate, elect our Leaders to legislate for the country’s growth and development, we wouldn’t fail our people by allowing a superimposed colleague who is not known, doesn’t have inclusivity in his little circle and who doesn’t want open and fair contest within his colleagues, but wants to be hoisted on democrats,” he said.
Nalaraba said that he and most of the returning, new members and those from outside the All Progressives Congress, (APC) are fully loyal, will support and vote for Betara for the post of Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
He said Betara has some qualities that endear about 200 members to him. He said Betara as the Chairman of the of House Committee on Appropriation had never delay the passage of the budget for years, he has a listening ears for members and staff; he stabilized the house against any threat of impeachment against Speaker Gbajabiamila amongst other distinct qualities unlike the past Assemblies.
The lawmaker, however, called on all well meaning Nigerians to support Betara for speakership for him to contribute to the growth National Assembly and development of the country at large.
