Reps Members Got N7.6 Million Each as ‘Sallah Gesture,’ Not Bribe for Tinubu’s Emergency Rule in Rivers – Betara

 Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has addressed allegations that members of the House of Representatives received N7.6 million each as a bribe to support President Bola Tinubu’s proposed emergency rule in Rivers State. 

Betara clarified that the funds were distributed as a “Sallah gesture” to lawmakers ahead of the Islamic festival and had no connection to any political decision.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Betara stated that such monetary allocations were customary during festive periods, dismissing claims that the payments were a strategic move to sway lawmakers’ stance on the political crisis in Rivers. The controversy emerged after reports surfaced suggesting that the financial disbursement was meant to secure legislative backing for the potential imposition of emergency rule amid the state’s ongoing political turmoil.

Opposition lawmakers and civil society organizations have called for an independent investigation into the matter, insisting that the distribution of funds raises ethical concerns. The presidency, however, has remained silent on the issue. The development comes amid heightened political tension, with analysts speculating that the Rivers State crisis could deepen in the coming weeks.