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The Kogi State Government has accused the senator representing the Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, of lacking respect for the rule of law.
Natasha held a successful homecoming on Tuesday, despite the Kogi State government’s ban on political gatherings and the use of convoys.
The state also dismissed the senator’s claim that former Governor Yahaya Bello, the incumbent Ahmed Usman Ododo, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio are behind her ordeals.
In a statement on Tuesday, a few hours after Natasha’s homecoming, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said, “The Kogi State Government has noted the reckless, malicious, and utterly false allegations made by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on her verified Facebook
page, in which she claims that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible if anything happens to her.
“This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an inveterate 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 the Kogi Central Senatorial District. We will not allow any part of the state to descend into chaos, nor permit the
killing of innocent people by the actions of the suspended Senator.
“Although she has since deleted the post after realising the consequences of her lie, 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 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.
Ododo’s administration said it will not be blackmailed or intimidated by what it describes as the antics of a desperate politician who, according to them, has built her political career on falsehoods.
The government said that Natasha should be blamed for any form of violence that may erupt in Kogi State, as a cloud of violence is currently hanging over Kogi Central due to the lawmaker’s refusal to comply with the State Government’s position and cooperate with security agencies.
The government warned that it would no longer tolerate deliberate provocation of crises by individuals who then cry foul when confronted with the consequences of their 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,” the statement added.
“We will not allow anyone, regardless of their status, to derail our commitment to peace, security, and progress.”
