By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The rare state of emergency rule proposed by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and approved by the National Assembly, which led to the suspension of elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the legislature in the oil-rich Rivers State, has continued to spark reactions following criticism from the opposition, lawyers, and civil society organisations.
A member of parliament has given a new twist to the controversial decision, which opposition leaders claim is politically motivated to favour the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). The party has long sought to take control of the opposition-led state.
Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), confirmed speculation that lawmakers may have been induced to back the presidential action but insisted that the funds received were not a bribe for approving the state of emergency rule.
Investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Betara reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah Gesture” and not an inducement.
According to the journalist, Betara said it was part of a long-standing tradition and had nothing to do with the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
“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 a ‘Sallah Gesture’, not 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 the thigh but the hind leg,” Jaafar posted.
The political crisis between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his successor Fubara escalated tensions in the politically volatile state, leading to the appointment of retired military officer Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator after the suspension of the elected governor.
Last week, online news agency SaharaReporters reported that a guest house belonging to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, located at No. 22 Yedeseram Street, Abuja, was the centre of cash distribution after he used a voice vote to approve the controversial emergency rule.
Allegations surfaced that, on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, senators discreetly received stacks of dollars as a reward for supporting the contentious emergency rule.
“The venue was the Senate President’s guest house at No. 22 Yedeseram Street, Maitama, where 42 senators were given $10,000 each last Wednesday night, and 45 senators received $5,000 each on Tuesday night, 18 March, to pass the controversial Rivers State emergency rule,” a top source confirmed.
Reports also alleged that Wike provided over $3 million to Akpabio to ensure the Senate’s support for the emergency rule declaration.
Some opposition lawmakers opposed the voice vote adopted by Akpabio to approve the emergency rule, instead calling for an open ballot. At least two-thirds of the 109 senators, about 72, were required for the emergency rule to pass, as well as 240 out of the 360 members of the House of Representatives.
“At least 72 senators are required to sign, but fewer than 60 were present today. The House of Representatives also needs a minimum of 240 votes. Meanwhile, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas was not informed, which explains the chaos in the House of Representatives today,” SaharaReporters quoted a source as saying.
Meanwhile, opposition Labour Party Senator Victor Umeh denied allegations that he was among the lawmakers who received monetary rewards for approving the emergency rule.
