A group, Bura Concerned Citizens Initiative, has appealed to members of the House of Representatives to go for an experienced and detribalised member as the next speaker of the house.

The group, comprising Southern Borno indigenes living in Abuja, made the call on Saturday at a news conference held at the NUJ House, Abuja.

The chairman of the group, Useni Bata-Ndahi, said the call became necessary in order to have a credible leadership that would fully support the renewal agenda being proposed by the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

He said “such experienced and detribalised leader is in Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, representing Biu, Bayo, Kwaya-Kusar and Shani Federal Constituency of Borno.

“A seasoned democrat who has built solid bridges across the Niger and invested his life and time to the development, promotion of peace and harmony, justice and equity among not just his colleagues, but Nigerians at large.

“That is why he was recently awarded by President Muhammadu Buhari with a national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

“As a constituent that can testify to his track records, his grassroots network, the electorate saw the need to return Hon. Muktar Betara to the House and contributed almost N130 million to obtain his nomination form.

“This was their way of saying thank you for the job; thank you for the infrastructure, thank you for the empowerment; thank you for lifting the less privileged.”

Mr Bata-Ndahi assured Nigerians that with Mr Betara’s choice as speaker of the 10th Assembly, there would be improved legislative dispensation and enhanced oversight functions by the legislators.

Mr Betara, who is serving his fifth consecutive term in the 10th Assembly, is one of the strong contenders for the speakership position.

(NAN)