In what many describe as a brazen display of Nigeria’s entrenched political culture of cash handouts, Hon. Jafar Abubakar, a member of the House of Representatives representing Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, has reportedly splashed an eye-popping N224 million in cash within his constituency.
The lawmaker, who withdrew the funds in mint notes from a commercial bank, allegedly distributed N124 million to “empower” youths, while another N100 million was handed to his childhood friends, whom he claimed were “not well-to-do.”
The gesture, which was carried out in public, has sparked outrage across Nigeria. Many citizens see it as a stark reminder of how politicians flaunt questionable wealth in a country where millions face crippling hunger, unemployment, and record inflation.
On social media, reactions poured in:
Daniel Pablo wrote: “This is why Nigeria can never work.”
King Mathew fumed: “This is the time for EFCC to show workings, but no—they wait for yahoo boys with laptops and iPhones. Nonsense.”
Echoes of a Bigger Scandal
The development comes on the heels of a stunning revelation earlier this year, when a federal lawmaker disclosed that since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, legislators have been swimming in funds disguised as “constituency projects.”
According to the lawmaker, no Senator receives less than N2 billion, while each member of the House of Representatives allegedly pockets a minimum of N1 billion.
That disclosure, made at a public gathering in Osun State, triggered nationwide outrage over what critics branded as an epidemic of corruption, impunity, and opaque spending in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The Larger Question
Hon. Abubakar’s lavish distribution of raw cash has once again put the spotlight on the disturbing disconnect between Nigeria’s political elite and the everyday realities of ordinary citizens. While lawmakers boast of billions, many of their constituents across Adamawa and beyond continue to battle poverty, joblessness, and insecurity.
Analysts warn that such cash-splash politics not only entrenches a culture of dependency but also fuels corruption and undermines real development in the country.
As one critic bluntly put it: “This is not empowerment—it is elite showmanship at the expense of a suffering nation.”
PIONEER NEWS 