APC lawmaker meets reps-elect in Mecca to decide next speaker

Rep Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno), one of the aspirants for the 10th House of Representatives speaker, has met legislators-elect currently on Umrah (lesser Hajj) to solicit their support ahead of the June inauguration of the parliament.

In a Wednesday statement, Mr Betara assured the lawmakers-elect across party lines of his resolve to carry everybody along if elected. He expressed satisfaction with the expanded consultation with various leaders and members of State caucuses during the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Betara, the chairman of the house committee on appropriations, said the meeting was attended by returning and newly elected National Assembly members from Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Gombe, Jigawa and Bauchi.

According to him, he used the opportunity of the Umrah to meet and consult members-elect to advance his campaign at his apartment in the holy city of Mecca on Monday evening.

Mr Betara said some members-elect who attended the meeting pledged support for his candidacy while applauding his leadership quality and support provided over the years to his contemporaries.

He said the consensus at the meeting was that he remained the most popular aspirant in the speakership race, given his generous disposition and responsiveness to members’ welfare.

(NAN)