‘Defiant’ Senator Natasha Receives Warm Welcome From Constituents In Ihima…She’s ‘A Desperate Politician’-Kogi Govt… Roles Played By Gov Ododo, Police ‘Condemnable’- HURIWA

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has gotten recognized as one of the female politicians in the country, who have not only defied the odds, but also helped to shape the course of politics in this part of the world.

She received a warm welcome from her constituents on Tuesday.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had done this against all odds as the state government and the police had tried to stop her from visiting her senatorial district.

Interestingly, the governor, Mr. Usman Ododo and his political godfather, who is his immediate predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, are from Ebira land like Natasha and it ended a ‘home defeat’ for the governor and Alhaji Bello.

 Team@orientactualmags.com learned that constituents from the 5 local governments in Kogi Central defied the ban on rallies and processions and the curfew declared by Chairman of Okehi Local Government, Hon. Amoka Eneji to welcome the senator, who is currently on a 6-month suspension.

She arrived in the town in a white helicopter and supporters who could not contain their excitement, hailed her.

‘Yesterday, we heard on the news that rallies and gatherings will not be allowed, that roads will be blocked, and convoys heading to the state will not be allowed.

I knew that we were the targets. But then I said, this is not political season, this is not campaign time.

We are not having a rally. This is just me, the Senator representing Kogi Central, coming down to her people to celebrate this festive time – the Sallah with you, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I am breaking no law. This is Nigeria. We have the right to be free, to express our choice in gatherings and celebrations’ she told the ecstatic supporters.

Senator Natasha is currently facing a recall petition and the recall petition which was activated a few days ago is underway.

The senator has continued to receive a great deal of public attention since the altercations involving her and the Senate President, Barrister Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements during a plenary session a few weeks ago.

Recall also that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that she is being victimized by the Senate President because she had refused to join him in participating in the game that requires no referee..

 The senate later suspended Natasha for 6 months. 

In the meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria on Tuesday condemned the actions of the police and Governor Usman Ododo, accusing them of trying to prevent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from going to her family house and receiving her constituents.

HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, alleged that the police, which should be independent and serve all citizens equally, have instead become a tool for the All Progressives Congress, particularly in Kogi State.

 ‘HURIWA is miffed that the Nigeria Police Force, which is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution that ought to work to advance the common good, has unfortunately become the official ‘attack dog’ and has further deteriorated to become the official ‘LAPDOG’ of the All Progressives Congress.

The hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force as a matter of fact and as a matter of national importance and urgency, should and must take steps to shake off their parasitic attachment to the party that produced the current president of Nigeria and operate in compliance with the constitutional provisions and the Police Act of 2020 which necessarily mandates the Nigeria Police Force to become a professional, politically unaffiliated and patriotic organisation that serves the interest of all Nigerians and not that of the All Progressives Congress in such a way that they are deployed to embark on a political witch-hunt gambit and practically made to behave like the official vigilantes of All Progressives Congress’ HURIWA said,

 ‘Why should the Kogi State police command follow sheepishly the political directive of the APC governor by abusing the police Act of 2020 and using illegal means through totally politically motivated and contrived reasons to attempt to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from exercising her constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights to freedom of movement,  freedom of peaceful Assembly and freedom of information?

This is a total deterioration of policing standards that must be confronted and the commissioner of police made to face investigation to provide evidence of security threats that he cited for attempting to carry out the partisan instructions of the All Progressives Congress to muzzle a citizen of Nigeria of her Human Rights?

HURIWA believes that the so-called security concerns are the contrived and dangerously partisan plot of the All Progressives Congress to frustrate the PDP Senator from going ahead with her preplanned rally. This is undemocratic’ the statement added.

Kogi State government has however accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false allegations against Governor Ododo noting that her decision to delete the facebook post in which she had made the allegations in question showed that she knew that it was nothing but falsehood.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo in a statement he issued on Tuesday noted that the senator’s defiant actions have confirmed that she is truly ‘a security threat to the people of the state’.

“The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to the reckless, malicious, and utterly false allegations made by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan in her verified Facebook Page, in which she claims that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible if anything happens to her.

This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulator to mislead the public, inciting unrest, and present herself as a victim after deliberately violating the ban on political gatherings imposed by the State Government to maintain law and order. Her statement exposed her plans to use her visit to stir trouble and violence in Kogi Central Senatorial District. We will not allow any part of the state to go up in flames nor permit the killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended Senator.

Although she has since deleted the post after realizing what the lie would cost her, we have a screenshot of it which was saved before she deleted the post. Her actions since the early hours of today have confirmed the authenticity of the security report that certain elements were planning to foment trouble in Kogi Central.

Let it be categorically stated that Governor Ododo has no interest in the political theatrics of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her baseless allegations are nothing but a feeble attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and cover up her blatant disregard for the law. She has once again proven that she has no respect for rules and the laws.

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan has consistently demonstrated a pattern of lawlessness, using lies and deceit as her tools of political engagement. The recent disturbances in Kogi State, orchestrated by her defiance of the state’s security directives, have further confirmed her status as a security threat to the people of the State.

She deliberately violated the State Government’s ban on political gatherings, which was put in place to prevent security breaches and maintain peace. Instead of respecting the law, she chose to incite chaos, disregarding the safety and stability of the state. When confronted with the consequences of her actions, she resorted to her usual tactics of playing the victim and fabricating baseless accusations against respected leaders of the state and the nation.

The people of Kogi State and Nigerians at large should see through her deceptive ploys and reject her attempt to manipulate public perception with outright lies. Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is not a victim; she is an instigator of disorder who thrives on spreading falsehoods to gain public sympathy.

 The Kogi State Government will not be blackmailed or intimidated by the antics of a desperate politician who has built her political career on falsehoods. We remain committed to upholding law and order and will take all necessary steps to ensure that no individual, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to breach public peace with impunity. The building tension and cloud of violence hanging on Kogi Central wouldn’t have been necessary if Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan had complied with the position of the State Government and cooperated with security agencies. She would be held responsible if her actions result in any violence in Kogi Central or any part of the State.

Let it be clear that the security of every citizen in Kogi State, including that of Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, remains a priority. However, the government will not tolerate anyone deliberately provoking crises and then crying wolf when confronted with the consequences of his or her actions.

We call on the security agencies to take note of her reckless utterances and inflammatory actions that pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the state. She should be held accountable for her blatant attempts to incite violence and cause unnecessary tension.

Kogi State remains a peaceful state under the leadership of the Chief Servant of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo and we will not allow anyone, regardless of his or her status, to derail our commitment to peace, security, and progress’ the statement added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you