Emergency Rule: Reps Got $5,000 As Sallah Gesture – Lawmaker, Betara

Posted by Thandiubani on Mon 24th Mar, 2025 - tori.ng

A Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, disclosed this in a post on his X handle.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara has confirmed the sharing of $5,000 to members of his committee.

He claimed the money was shared as a “Sallah gesture” and not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.

A Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, disclosed this in a post on his X handle.

Jaafar said Betara explained this to him after the lawmaker reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah gesture” and not an inducement.

According to the investigative journalist, Betara said it 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.”

See post below:

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.

According to him, he maintains the tradition – like… pic.twitter.com/o18kOkURKa
— Jaafar Jaafar (@JaafarSJaafar) March 23, 2025