Supporters of the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Tuesday, took to the streets chanting her homecoming rally, despite a ban on public gatherings by the Kogi state governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Miller Dantawaye, reinforced the government’s directive Tuesday, emphasising that the planned rally violates the ban on political gatherings and urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to call off the scheduled Sallah rally in the senatorial district.
However, images circulating online, Tuesday, April 1, showed enthusiastic supporters holding placards in solidarity with the suspended lawmaker.
The inscriptions severally read: “Welcome home, worthy daughter of Ebiraland”. “The people of Okene are solidly behind you,” and “This injustice will not be sustained,” among others.
The senator, whose suspension by the National Assembly, made national and international headlines, returned to the state for the first time since the sanction on her March 6, in a helicopter amid cheers by her supporters in Okene local government area of the state.
…Insists no one can stop her
Earlier in a statement Tuesday, the lawmaker defiantly said she would not back out on her plan to return to her constituency for the Sallah break.
She called on her supporters to disregard speculations making the round that she has cancelled her scheduled visit.
The statement, issued by her media team read: “We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central Senatorial District will proceed as planned.
“Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.”
While stating that she has a statutory function in her capacity as the lawmaker representing her constituents, the senator encouraged her supporters to troop out en masse to celebrate Eid el-Fitr with her.
“As the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to engaging with her community and fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.
“Her dedication to the people of Kogi Central is unwavering, and she looks forward to celebrating Eid el-Fitr with her constituents.
“We would like to assure the public that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a successful and joyous event. We invite all members of the community to join us in marking this special occasion,” the statement added.
The state government, had in a statement issued Monday by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said the ban on political rallies was to prevent any form of security breach that might destabilise the state.
Fanwo added that intelligence reports indicated that some persons were planning to “stage some violent rallies in the guise of political and religious agitations” in Kogi Central.
…Curfew imposed on Okehi
Also in another development, the chairman of Okehi local government area of the state, Amoka Monday, had imposed a curfew across the council.
Monday cited security concerns following the ban on political rallies and unauthorised public gatherings.
In a statement he signed Monday, he explained that the curfew was necessary to ensure peace and order in line with directives from the Kogi state government and Commissioner of Police.
He noted that anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The curfew, which takes immediate effect, restricts movement and gatherings in designated areas.
“Anyone found loitering or assembling in restricted zones without clearance from the relevant authorities will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The safety of our people is paramount. We will not allow any situation that could jeopardise the peace and stability of our communities,” said the council chair.
Describing the curfew as a proactive step to prevent any potential security threats, Monday reassured residents that the local government administration was working closely with security agencies to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to maintain law and order.
…Police warn
And sounding a warning in a statement Tuesday, the Kogi state Police Command in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, warned against the violation of the ban on all political rallies.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
…Wants Akpabio, Bello, Ododo held liable
But the embattled lawmaker has urged Nigerians to hold Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Ododo and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, responsible in event of any attack on her and her supporters.
Writing on her official Facebook, she said: “My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our peaceful Sallah celebrations today.
“However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Gov Òdodo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible.”
Her warning comes a few hours after she vowed in a statement to go ahead with her scheduled visit to her constituency for the Eid-el-Fìtr break and the rally planned for her homecoming.
While calling on her supporters to disregard speculations making the rounds that the scheduled visit had been cancelled, the lawmaker urged her supporters to troop out en masse to celebrate the Eid el-Fitr with her.
LNG mini refineries
Meanwhile, the lawmaker has alleged that she is being persecuted by the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio as a result of the five mini LNG refineries she lobbied to her constituency.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated this on Tuesday in Ihima community, Okehi local government area while cerebrating Sallah festival with her constituents.
The federal lawmaker, who had been suspended for six months from the Senate for alleged gross misconduct, said no amount of intimidation and persecution that would stop or discourage her from serving the people that gave her the mandate to represent them at the National Assembly.
“My constituents stood on the hot sun on the 28th of February, 2023 you voted for me across party lines to give me your mandate to represent you at the national assembly as a senator.
“The only reason why I had been persecuted so much in the last one month was because I dared the bad corrupt system. I refused to do things the way they usually do politics , I refused to be silent and I used my position as a senator to lobby projects for my constituency.
“But as I worked hard to serve my constituency i made a lot of enemies as some of them felt I am subjecting them to ridicule , my colleagues in the senate confronted me that my empowerment programmes are subjecting them to ridicule in the constituency and I pleaded to them that, that was not my intention.
“I will never regret doing what I am doing for my constituency. I am being harassed by the senate president but he can never get whatever he wanted from me. On the 30th of February, 2025 when the ground breaking of five mini LNG refineries was carried out in Ajaokuta my constituency, the project angered the Senate President.
“The Senate President, who was furious, stated that how can such projects be established in the North instead of the South – South. The Senate President removed me from the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Local Content because he believes that I have been using the committee to promote the North and that is exactly what he said. He refused me from the committee just five days after the ground breaking of the five projects.”
