Kogi Gov’t Kicks As Natasha Holds Homecoming Rally Despite Ban

The Kogi State government has reacted to the homecoming Sallah celebration by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, despite a last-minute ban imposed on public gatherings in the State.

The State governor, Usman Ododo, had on Monday announced a ban on rallies citing security reports less than 24 hours to the embattled Senator’s homecoming rally to which she was billed to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr festival with her constituents.

The Senator, however, 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 corps, the female Senator left many amazed when she flew into her Ihima countryhome, in Adavi local government area of the State in an helicopter.

Following the development, a statement condemning her action issued by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, described Natasha as being manipulative.

The statement referenced an early morning social media post by Senator Natasha warning that if anything happened during the event, the trio of Governor Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio should be held responsible.

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.”