Kogi Govt Fumes As Senator Natasha Holds Rally Despite Ban

The Kogi State government was left fuming on Tuesday after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi-Central) ignored a last minute ban on rally and economic activities in some local governments of the state to proceed with her homecoming.

The state governor, Usman Ododo had on Monday announced a ban on rallies citing security reports less than 24 hours to the senator’s homecoming to which she was billed to celebrate Muslim festival with her constituents.

The Senator rejected the ban saying she would proceed with the event.

On Tuesday, while the roads were blocked with heavily armed police operatives and soldiers alongside men of the civil defence, the senator left many amazed when she flew in via a helicopter.

An aide to the senator who shared the programme of the event and how she arrived at the venue said “the senator is in high spirit. You know she’s loved by her people.”

Following the development, a statement condemning her action sent to THE WHISTLER by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Fanwo, described the senator as being manipulative.

The statement referenced an early morning post the senator made that she shared across her social media accounts warning that if anything happened during the event, Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible describing it as misleading.

The government said her posturing was “yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulator to mislead the public, incite 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 killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended Senator.”

The statement stressed that “Ododo absolutely 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.”

It noted “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 state government called on “the people of Kogi State and Nigerians to 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,” the government warned.

Wike noting that the security of every citizen in Kogi State, including that of senator Natasha, remains a priority, it said the government will not tolerate anyone deliberately provoking crises and then crying wolf when confronted with the consequences of his or her actions.

It called 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.”