- Safiu Kehinde
The Kogi State Government has debunked claims made by suspended lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the state governor, Usman Ododo; his predecessor, Yahaya Bello; and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
NPO Reported that Natasha had, during her homecoming rally at her Ihire hometown yesterday, called out Yahaya Bello and Akpabio over alleged plot to kill her.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District also disclosed how Akpabio had allegedly asked Ododo to initiate her recall process.
Reacting, the state government, in a statement issuedon Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the allegations as “reckless, malicious, and utterly false.”
Fanwo accused Natasha of attempting to incite public unrest and deliberately violating security directives.
According to the Commissioner, the embattled senator’s social media post—now deleted—was a calculated attempt to manipulate public sentiment and stir controversy.
The government also claimed to have secured a screenshot of the post before its removal, reinforcing their assertion that Akpoti-Uduaghan is attempting to incite violence in Kogi Central.
“This is 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,” the statement read.
Natasha was also accused of consistently engaging in “lawlessness, using lies and deceit as her tools of political engagement.”
While labelling her as a security threat, the government held that she had intentionally disregarded the restrictions on political gatherings, a measure they claim was put in place to prevent security breaches.
“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 statement read further.
The government maintained that it would not be blackmailed or intimidated by Natasha actions, vowing to take necessary steps to maintain public peace.
While reiterating its commitment to ensuring the security of all citizens, including Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi government called on security agencies to investigate her “reckless utterances and inflammatory actions.”
“Kogi State remains a peaceful state under the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and we will not allow anyone, regardless of their status, to derail our commitment to peace, security, and progress,” the statement concluded.