On Monday, March 24, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, explained that he gave $5,000 to members of his committee as a “Sallah gesture” and not as a bribe to influence their support for the emergency rule in Rivers State.
Betara made this clarification after Nigerian investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar posted about it on his X handle. Jaafar shared that Betara contacted him to explain the situation.
Betara told Jaafar, “I only shared $5,000 with each member of my committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.”
He went on to say that this was part of a long-standing tradition, much like the way Santa Claus gives gifts. Betara emphasized that it had nothing to do with the political crisis in Rivers State.
Jaafar reported, “The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he maintains this tradition every year, just like Santa Claus. As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg.”
Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to political instability and security threats, including recent oil pipeline vandalism. But some reports claimed that senators were bribed with $15,000 to support the emergency rule.
Rumors suggested that senators received $5,000 on Tuesday and $10,000 on Wednesday, just before they voted on the emergency rule proclamation. However, Betara’s gesture had nothing to do with this alleged bribery.
