Members-elect of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been involved in intense politicking to select the next speaker of the state House of Assembly. As of now, there are two prominent contenders for the job.
They are former Majority Leader of the House Alhaji Dayyabu Chiroma and one-time Chairman of Ganjuwa Local Government Council, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed Miya, who was also elected on the platform of the PDP to represent Ganjuwa West in the next Assembly. Unlike Chiroma, Miya is a fresh legislator though with vast administrative experience.
In line with the unwritten zoning arrangement, since Governor Isa Yuguda comes from Bauchi South and his Deputy from Bauchi North, the Speaker ought to come from Bauchi Central senatorial zone. Now the House appears to be going in this direction. Both Chiroma and Miya are from the Central zone and are being separately supported by different interest groups
Speaking to Daily Trust recently, Chiroma confirmed that horse trading is going on over who becomes speaker of the Bauchi State assembly ahead of the inauguration of the House with the aim of getting a credible leader that will carry all members along and work to sustain the independence of the legislatures.
Feelers from among the newly elected members indicated that Yahaya Miya is favoured to clinch the position of speaker when the House is inaugurated. But lack of legislative experience becomes his biggest obstacle, a point which his opponents are cashing on.
The two prominent lawmakers in the House, Halliru Dauda Jika and Abubakar Ahmed Faggo, who had been locked in a legal tussle over the leadership of the Assembly had both lost the bid to return to the chamber in the next assembly. But for their misfortune during the election, any of them could have won the upper hand in the ongoing race for speaker of the House. Only nine out of the 31 members of the assembly were voted to return for the next session leaving the House with 22 new members.
It is believed that with his vast experience as onetime council chairman coupled with top level political contacts in the political circle of Bauchi State, Miya is likely to take the day. His supporters believe that as speaker, Miya will contribute positively to the development of the state by carrying members along and ensuring good rapport between the Legislature and the Executive arm.
But another group feels that Dayyabu Chiroma who is the majority leader in the outgoing state assembly has the experience of legislative businesses. He was once nominated to serve as speaker when Gamawa was appointed deputy governor but he lost the chance to Abubakar Faggo.
The group believes that Chiroma has the experience as he held several positions in the house and this is the second time he is going to the house, unlike Miya who is a first termer.
When contacted over the development, Yahaya Miya said, “I cannot make any comment on that since we are not yet inaugurated. But let me assure you that we will join the Executive in moving the state forward.”
State Publicity Secretary of the PDP Sani Al’amin Mohammed said the party has not taken a position on who becomes the next speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly but he indicated that the issue would be top on the party’s agenda in order to guide the house on how best to get the leadership that will be respected and be acceptable to all.
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On the race for Bauchi speakership