Kogi Grassroots Politician Breaks Silence, Laments N21m Sacrifice Amid Blackmail
….Alhaji Abubakar Rajab Slams ‘Betrayer’ Label, Accuses Boss of Rewarding Insulters Over Loyalists
By Yahaya Idris
Renowned Kogi State grassroots politician, Alhaji Abubakar Rajab, has broken his silence over what he described as a vicious blackmail campaign labelling him a betrayer, revealing he personally spent N21 million in under two years to support his principal’s office.
In a heartfelt statement issued on his Facebook account, Rajab dismissed the accusations, praying that detractors experience similar trials to foster empathy.
“Those who choose to label me a betrayer may continue if they wish. I pray that Allah grants some of you experiences similar to mine, so that judgment may give way to understanding and empathy,” he said.
The politician, who hails from the Igala extraction but has integrated among the Ebira community, detailed his voluntary expenditures without expectation of reward.
“Speaking my truth brings me a quiet sense of relief. In less than two years of service in his office, I voluntarily expended resources amounting to ₦21 million. Allah is my witness,” Rajab stated.
He broke down the spending: N5 million went towards medical treatment for his late brother and confidant, Mallam Musa Masco, described as his “number one and two”, whose death left an enduring void.
The balance covered “inevitable loopholes” during empowerment exercises to ensure they benefited the intended grassroots recipients.
Rajab cleared these debts by September last year, aided not by his kinsmen but a non-Igala benefactor, even as his boss empowered vocal opponents.
“Today, it is not uncommon for someone to insult him publicly on Facebook and receive a credit alert shortly thereafter, while those who bore the heat of the day and stood firm during the storm remain overlooked,” he lamented.
He highlighted the irony: nearly 80% of laptop recipients had previously insulted and humiliated his principal, yet his own end-of-year gift was a gas cylinder and 25kg bag of rice. “Is this not a situation where loyalty is starved and opposition is inadvertently nourished?
And yet, some expect me to celebrate,” Rajab queried.
Praising Ebira cultural values of recognizing loyalty, Rajab insisted his actions stemmed from genuine commitment, not entitlement. “He knows where we started from, the road we walked, and the contributions I made to his growth. As the elders say, ‘the one who fetches water does not forget the well,’ and ‘gratitude is the memory of the heart.’
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/02/02/full-list-of-2026-grammy-award-winners/
When loyalty is continually ignored, silence, not betrayal, often becomes the final refuge.”Entrusting his case to Allah, Rajab expressed deep pain: “I entrust my matter to Allah, the Most Just.
He knows intentions, records sacrifices, and never allows sincerity to be wasted.
I’m in deep pain!”
Rajab’s outburst has sparked reactions in Kogi’s political circles, with calls for reconciliation amid ongoing power tussles.
