Politics

Speakership Battle: Pressure On Shettima, Adamu To Stop ‘Aggrieved Aspirants Coalition’

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2023

Editor

The battle for the speakership of the 10th National Assembly has taken a new dimension as the aggrieved aspirants are seeking to form a consensus candidate to tackle Tajudeen Abbas.

It would be recalled that aggrieved lawmakers- Muktar Betara, Idris Wase, Aminu Jaji, Alhassan Doguwa and Sada Soli formed a coalition to battle Abbas, the candidate endorsed by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Report had it earlier that the group had commenced the move to produce a consensus candidate among themselves.

This was also confirmed by Betara on Friday, who stated that the group is working to produce the next Speaker.

“We can pick the candidate from among ourselves, but will all sit down and decide on it. I assure all of you it is only one person that God would choose to be Speaker.

“I assure you we are not going to have any issues. We are going to agree to support one of us as the Speaker,” he said.

However, earlier, Abbas and the Joint Task, the group loyal to Femi Gbajabiamila visited the vice president-elect to intervene in the battle.

During the meeting in Abuja, Abbas said there is an ongoing conversation with Wase, Betara, Onuoha and others.

“I will take it upon myself to reach out to the other contenders. Rt Hon Betara is my brother. We are from the same subregion, we are from the same state and I have the best relationship with him. I met him two nights ago, I will sustain that.

“Around 1 pm today I met with Rt. Hon Wase, the deputy speaker. We will continue with the engagements so we can have a rancour-free Assembly,” he said.

It was learnt that there has been pressure on Shettima and Abdulahi Adamu to stop the rebellion in the House.

Shettima and Betara are from the same Borno State, but the former has been quiet on the speakership race. Some leaders of the party have turned to him to address the issue.

Aside from being from Borno State, Shettima is also currently a member of the National Assembly, representing Borno Central.

Those within the party believe that Betara holds the ace in the race, and his withdrawal will weaken the opposition.

This paper also learnt that similar pressure is on the National Chairman, Abdulahi Adamu and the Deputy Chairman, Suleiman Kyari to intervene.

Adamu is from North-central, the same region as Wase and Gagdi, while Kyari is from Borno State.

However, in the absence of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, there is a vacuum once again, and the decision on the race appears to be facing uncertainty until his return.

Related Topics:10th NASS Adamu Speakership

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Politics

2027: Jonathan Will Contest Under PDP, Return To Aso Rock — Jerry Gana

Published

17 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Former Minister of Information and Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, has disclosed that ex-president Goodluck Jonathan will contest again in 2027.

Gana made this remark while speaking to journalists in Minna, the Niger State capital.

According to him, Jonathan will contest in the next presidential election, as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to him, Nigerians had experienced life under two presidents after Jonathan and were now yearning for his return.

“In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan said his ambition was not worth the blood of Nigerians,” Gana said.

“After him, another President ruled for eight years, and now another has ruled for two years.

“Nigerians have seen the difference, and the difference is very clear. Nigerians are now asking us to bring back our friend, former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as President again,” he added.

Politics

How I Survived Kidnap, Assassination Attempt – Rivers Speaker

Published

17 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

The Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, said he is thankful to God for surviving a kidnapping and, an assassination attempt in the past years.
Amaewhule made this known during his 52nd birthday thanksgiving service at the All Saints Anglican Church, Eliozu, Obio/Apkor Local Government Area, Rivers State.

“I am not just marking another birthday but acknowledging that many people had planned to take his life in the last one year, but God didn’t allow them,” he said.
Recounting how he survived a harrowing experience in 2008, he said that he narrowly escaped death during the incident.

Amaewhule noted that he was abducted by some unidentified gunmen at his residence as he arrived after a Sunday church service.

“Some of you were here in 2008 when a preacher was preaching right here on a Sunday service, on that faithful day, I didn’t know the people who came to kidnap me were also in the service,” he said.

“After service, they tactically followed me to my residence, tied up my security guard, and abducted me and took me to a forest where they held me hostage for five days.

“They placed thorns under my feet and inflicted several injuries on my head and body in the process of moving me from one hideout to another within the forest.

“They fed me with biscuits throughout the period even as I almost bled to death.”

The speaker, however, expressed gratitude to God for his numerous blessings, guidance, and preservation over the years.

“When God does things for you, it is important to appreciate him for more.”

Politics

Edo: Chief Ben Bowei Sworn In As Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West

Published

22 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

High Chief Ben Bowei (Left) taking oath of office at the council secretariat on Monday

An Activist and politician, High Chief Ben Bowei has been sworn in as Vice Chairman, Ovia South-West Local Government Council of Edo State.

Bowei, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), deputises Hon. Nosakhare Edobor who happens to be the Chairman of the council.

The Vice Chairman, a committed member of the APC in the local government and state, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the local government council being a former National Treasurer of the most respected youth body in west Africa — Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

Bowei, an advocate and promoter of governance, is the founder of Niger Delta Volunteer for Good Governance, said he’s poised in promoting good governance and taking the dividends of democracy to the most interior part of the local government.

The Vice Chairman urged sons and daughters of the local government to cooperate with the council’s leadership in their bid to extend the dividends of democracy to them.

Bowei, while appreciating governor Monday Okpebholo and his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, for the good work the current administration has been doing in the state, expressed optimism that the current state government would perform beyond expectations.