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<p>The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on <strong>FCT</strong>, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has refuted claims that lawmakers were given $5,000 as a bribe to support the emergency rule declaration in Rivers State.</p>
<p>Betara clarified that the money was a routine <strong>“Sallah gesture”</strong> shared among members of his committee and had no link to the political crisis in Rivers.</p>
<figure id="attachment_1163736" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1163736" style="width: 773px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><picture decoding="async" class="wp-image-1163736 size-full"><source type="image/webp" data- data-/><img decoding="async" alt="Emergency Rule: “Reps got $5,000 as Sallah gift, not bribe” - Chairman Betara" width="773" height="816" class="perfmatters-lazy" src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_8585.jpeg" data-/><img decoding="async" src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_8585.jpeg" alt="Emergency Rule: “Reps got $5,000 as Sallah gift, not bribe” - Chairman Betara" width="773" height="816" />
</picture><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1163736" class="wp-caption-text">Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Betara.</figcaption></figure>
<p>His explanation came in response to <strong>reports alleging that lawmakers received monetary incentives to endorse the emergency declaration.</strong></p>
<p>Nigerian investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar disclosed via his X handle that Betara personally reached out to him to clear the air.</p>
<p>“<em>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,”</em> Jaafar wrote.</p>
<p><em>According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.</em></p>
<p><em> “As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg,</em><em>” </em>he added.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, reports have surfaced alleging that senators received $15,000 to approve the state of emergency in Rivers State.</p>
<p>Sources claim they were given $5,000 on Tuesday, followed by an additional $10,000 the day before voting on the matter.</p>
<p>The controversy follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing rising political instability and security threats, including recent cases of oil pipeline vandalism.</p>
<p>See below;</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.gistreel.com/emergency-rule-reps-got-5000-as-sallah-gift-not-bribe-reps-chairman-betara/" previewlistener="true">Source link </a></p>

