The Chairman, House of Reps Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has denied that the $5,000 given to each member of the House were bribes to secure support for President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State.

Investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, said 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 is part of a long-standing tradition, adding that has 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 previous media reports, which claimed 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.

President Tinubu, last week, 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.

Glo Foundation, a CSR organization set up by telecommunications giant, Globacom, has liaised with the Lagos Food Bank to distribute boxes of food items to the Ilaje community of Bariga, Lagos.

Glo Foundation disclosed last Saturday  when several thousands of residents of Ilaje community in Bariga, Lagos State, came out to receive food items and other valuables that the initiative was aimed at ameliorating food insecurity and reducing the suffering of the underprivileged in the  society.

Each of the food packs contained Rice, Garri, Spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, tooth brushes, sardines, salt, vegetable oil, and seasoning cubes.

The distribution of the big boxes of food items, was carried out in collaboration with the Lagos Food Bank, at the Love Lagos Jetty in Bariga. The rare initiative elicited joy from beneficiaries  marking  the commencement of a nationwide food initiative by the Foundation to support hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in several states of the Federation.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and appreciation as the  beneficiaries sang and danced in celebration of Glo Foundation’s gesture.

In her remarks at the event, the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Globacom, Mrs. Adejumobi Mofe-Damijo  harped on  the Foundation’s  determination to bring joy to families through the food drive which, she said, would be extended to other parts of the country.

According to her,  the Foundation would undertake  series of interventions that would bear positive impact on  different sectors of the society in tandem with its vision of empowerment and care for the less-privileged.

Mofe-Damijo also gave kudos to  the staff of Globacom for embracing the  culture of giving and lending support to  the project consultants, Lagos Food Bank Initiative, to achieve the   success that the event recorded.

The elated  beneficiaries thanked Glo Foundation for the laudable intervention with the food and various items in the packs given to them.  Abiola Oladunjoye, an unemployed female member  of the community, disclosed that the food pack from the Foundation was divine provision for her household. “I really appreciate. May the Almighty continue to protect the company and may it continue to grow. I pray for more success for you all and the company itself for remembering us here.”.

In the same vein,  Amarachi Peter, a cook, was profuse  in praise of Glo Foundation for bringing the train of its Food Drive to the community. She noted that the pack for her was a huge relief at a time like this when the cost of living has become unbearable.

Similarly, Eunice Kehinde, a hairdresser, kept praying for Glo Foundation and staff of Globacom who were on hand to support the distribution. “It is not easy for my family to feed these days. With this food pack from Glo, we are sure of what to eat for some weeks”, she noted, and commended Glo Foundation for considering the community in the food drive initiative.

The Executive Director of Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Michael Sunbola, appreciated Globacom for its investment in the food drive while inviting   other corporate organizations to be part of the charity venture.

Said he, “We are happy to collaborate with Globacom on this. This is the pilot phase and other parts of the country will also benefit from the drive aimed at touching the lives of the real underprivileged in the society”, he said.

The Glo Foundation train is billed to visit  another Lagos community next Saturday to replicate the same gesture.

CNN International’s magazine programme, African Voices Playmakers, this weekend highlights the contributions of  Late Congolese-American National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo  as a humanitarian icon and mentor of young basketball players on the continent. The programme is bankrolled by data solutions provider, Globacom.

Full name Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukaba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, he was known simply by his moniker ‘Mount Mutombo’ because of his  defensive  dexterity. He was born on June 25, 1966, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and studied Medicine at Georgetown University in America.  He, however, chose to  follow his passion for basketball, playing for   18 remarkable seasons in the NBA.

Dikembe created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve the living condition of his folks in the DRC. Unfortunately, he  lost his fierce battle with  brain cancer in September, 2024 at the age of 58.

He however remains a beacon of light to youngsters of African descent on the pitch. This new generation of African basketball players who enjoyed his tutelage  include his son, Ryan, his two nephews and other youngsters from the continent two of whom  are rising NBA stars, Yves Missi and Josh Okogie.

Both 20-year-old Missi, a Cameroonian professional basketball player with the New Orleans Pelicans, and 26-year-old Nigerian-American shooting guard, Okojie, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the United States of America  will talk about Dikembe’s influence and their successful careers so far in international basketball.

The 30-minute show will be on air on DSTV Channel 401 at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday with a repeat the same day at 11 a.m. On Sunday, other repeats will be broadcast at   3.30 a.m. and 6.p.m. and on Monday at 3.00 a.m. Further repeats come up at 7.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday next week; Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on Monday at 4 a.m.