Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, has warned that Nigerians should hold Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo, and former Governor Yahaya Bello responsible if she or her supporters face any harm.
She made this statement in a post on her official Facebook page, where she also expressed her excitement about celebrating Sallah with her constituents.
However, she raised concerns about potential violence, stating, “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 Ododo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible.”
Her statement comes shortly after she reaffirmed her decision to proceed with her planned visit to her constituency despite rumors that she had canceled the trip. The senator urged her supporters to ignore such speculations and come out in large numbers to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr holiday with her.
This development follows a recent decision by the Kogi State Government to ban public gatherings and rallies across the state due to security concerns. The government explained that the move was necessary following incidents that led to the loss of lives in Kasemiya, Katubo, and Umozu Ette, all in Kogi Local Government Area.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, noted that the restrictions were put in place to maintain peace and prevent any security threats that could destabilize the state. Similarly, the Kogi State Police Command warned Akpoti-Uduaghan against holding her planned rally, citing the state government’s ban on political gatherings. Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the rally would be a violation of this directive.
Despite these warnings, videos of supporters preparing for the senator’s arrival have surfaced on social media. A live video shared by one of the Kogi senators, Bashir Haroon, showed a large gathering of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, mostly women, singing and drumming in anticipation of her return.
