By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

In an attempt to clarify, the Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has denied that the funds were bribes to secure support for the emergency rule.

Investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar disclosed 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 thigh but hind leg,” Jaafar posted.

However, this explanation corroborates SaharaReporters’ previous exclusive findings, which revealed that substantial sums were handed out at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s guest house in Maitama, Abuja, to sway lawmakers in favour of the emergency rule.

Multiple sources confirmed to the media that Akpabio’s guest house at No. 22, Yedeseram Street was the epicentre of the cash distribution. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, senators were discreetly handed stacks of dollars, allegedly as a reward for supporting Tinubu’s controversial move.

“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, March 18, to pass the controversial Rivers State emergency rule,” a top source confirmed.

Adding fuel to the scandal, SaharaReporters also learned that Labour Party senators Victor Umeh and Neda Imasuen played key roles in facilitating the payout despite their party’s opposition stance.

“They were the only Labour Party senators present at both events on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and participated in collecting the money,” a source disclosed.

This comes amid earlier reports that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike allegedly provided over $3 million to Akpabio to ensure the Senate backed the emergency rule declaration. Sources told SaharaReporters that Wike and Akpabio met following Tinubu’s directive to “do the groundwork” for the emergency declaration.

The cash reportedly flowed during an Iftar dinner attended by selected senators, where varying amounts of dollars were allegedly distributed based on lawmakers’ seniority.

Despite the massive cash incentives, some prominent senators, including former governors Seriake Dickson and Aminu Tambuwal, reportedly snubbed the event.

Further intrigue unfolded last Wednesday when Senate deliberations on the emergency rule were postponed to 3 p.m., allegedly to prevent a full house from voting on the matter. According to insiders, Senate President Akpabio orchestrated the delay to ensure that opposition voices were absent when the motion was pushed forward.

“The senators requested an open vote, but Akpabio postponed it until 3 p.m. when most senators would have left the chamber,” a source told SaharaReporters.

“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.”

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political instability and security threats, including recent oil pipeline vandalism.

However, the revelations of cash-for-support allegations raise serious questions about the move’s legitimacy and the extent of the political manoeuvring behind it.

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

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has stepped in to mediate between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in a bid to resolve their ongoing political dispute.

This peace initiative, which aims to address the tensions exacerbated by the political conflict, comes after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18, suspending Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Chairman of PANDEF, Godknows Igali, confirmed that the forum had arranged for a peace meeting between the two political figures.

Speaking on a TV program, Igali explained that PANDEF had approached a southern governor, unaffiliated with the conflict, to host the crucial meeting.

He stated: “We are a body that is formed to promote dialogue, to promote the reign of peace in the region and also defending, of course, the people. A template has been established, and that template is that we go and talk about how we can arrive at a peaceful resolution to this problem.”

Igali noted that PANDEF would have taken a more reactive approach if there had been no opportunity for dialogue.

“If that option was not there, PANDEF would have reacted totally differently,” he emphasized, adding that the mediation process was already showing promising progress.

Describing the steps PANDEF took to facilitate communication between the two sides, Igali explained that the forum had previously encountered resistance from both parties, who were unwilling to engage in discussions.

However, the situation has now shifted, with both factions showing more willingness to come to the table.

“The committee of elders succeeded in talking to the two sides.

“They met people who were very close to the governor. They met with the governor himself twice. Then they also met with the very close people to the minister of the federal capital territory, and the two sides agreed that, okay, let us arrange for the two principals to meet at a neutral ground,” Igali explained

Igali revealed that PANDEF had already identified a neutral location for the peace talks, with the backing of a southern governor.

“We had already started working on that, on a place where both of them can meet face to face. I can put it out that we had approached one of the governors in the south who is very detached from this matter to host, and he had accepted to host,” he said.

Fear of a possible clash is mounting in the ancient city of Kano following a parallel Sallah Durbar festival scheduled by the 15th Emir, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Khalifa Mohammadu Sanusi II.

The prolonged emirate tussle in the city is taking another dimension amid a legal battle, as both contenders have mapped out separate lines of events with the full backing of the federal and state governments.

In a letter signed by Bayero’s Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the 15th Emir has notified the authorities of the plan and arrangements to conduct the traditional festival, including Hauwa Nasarawa and Daushe, to commemorate the end of Ramadan.

According to the schedule, Bayero’s festivities will feature Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe, and Hawan Nassarawa on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of Shawwal 1446 AH, followed by a cultural event on the 4th day.

Kwaru noted that this year’s celebrations marked a significant milestone, coinciding with the Emir’s fifth anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.

“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify the security agencies in Kano State, particularly the Police Force, that this year’s Sallah events coincide with the five (5) years anniversary of His Highness on the throne of his forefathers, with the assurance that all activities will be conducted peacefully,” the letter read.

He expressed hope for a peaceful celebration and prayed for protection, good health, and harmony in society, adding that the Emir’s office sought the cooperation of security agencies to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration.

Incidentally, Bayero’s notice of the event emerged on social media soon after, the Kano State Government directed the four recognized emirates, under the leadership of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, to commence full preparation for the Durbar festival.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the directive while hosting the first and second-class emirs to a special Ramadan Iftar at the Government House, insisting that residents would not be denied the opportunity to relish the colorful traditional activities at the end of Ramadan.

The Kano Sallah Durbar festival is a famous tourist attraction that gathers visitors from within and outside Nigeria to witness the heritage of Hausa/Fulani culture at the Emir’s palace.

The Durbar features a colourful horse ride by the Emir, accompanied by district heads, traditional titleholders, and hundreds of their subjects, where they display ancient shows of strength and warrior traditions.

Besides the horse rides, the Sallah festival also witnesses the honour of homage by the Emir to the Government House (Hauwa Nassarawa) on the second day of Sallah, after the Governor would have paid a similar visit to the palace on Sallah day.

Coincidentally, while Governor Yusuf is scheduled to receive the homage of Muhammadu Sanusi and other second-class emirs at the Government House, The Guardian reliably gathered that Bayero would pay a similar visit to Federal Government delegations, including top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano, at a local venue yet to be unveiled.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Police Command in Kano, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful as his phone line was reported to have been forwarded to another unknown line. However, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, upon his arrival, pledged to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Recall that the police outrightly banned the celebration of the Sallah Durbar festival last year following the emirship crisis and the attendant tension of a possible security threat in the city. [The Guardian]