The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has dismissed the rumors surrounding the $5,000 he shared with members of his committee.
In response to comments that the amount was an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State, he said the amount distributed to the committee was a “Sallah gesture”.
This was disclosed by investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar in a post on his X handle after the lawmaker reached out to the journalist to clarify the issue.
According to Betara, the amount was part of a long-standing tradition and had nothing to do with the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Jaafar wrote: “The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
“According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.
“As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political instability and security threats, including recent oil pipeline vandalism.
However, several reports claimed that senators received a $15,000 bribe to endorse the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The rumors alleged that the senators received $5,000 on Tuesday and then $10,000 on Wednesday, the day before they voted on the proclamation.
The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 to each member of his committee as "Sallah Gesture" not an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
— Jaafar Jaafar (@JaafarSJaafar) March 23, 2025
According to him, he maintains the tradition – like… pic.twitter.com/o18kOkURKa
