HURIWA Condemns Kogi Gov Ododo, Police’s Interference In Natasha’s Visit

HURIWA condemns Kogi Gov Ododo, police’s interference in Natasha’s visit. HURIWA accused the police of being a tool for the All Progressives Congress, particularly in Kogi State, in trying to stop the senator’s visit.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, and the state police over the ban on political activities in the Okehi Local Government Area, where suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was to meet her family and engage with her constituents.

HURIWA said the announcement of the ban two days before Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s homecoming event was politically motivated.

The association said in a statement by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, that the police, which should serve independently in protecting and serving all citizens without bias, was instrumental in trying to block Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s visit to her hometown.

The HURIWA accused the police of being a tool for the All Progressives Congress, particularly in Kogi State, in trying to stop the senator’s visit.

“HURIWA is miffed that the Nigeria Police Force, which is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution that ought to work to advance the common good, has unfortunately become the official ‘attack dog’ and has further deteriorated to become the official ‘lapdog’ of the All Progressives Congress,” the association said.

Okehi LGA chairman Amoka Eneji had announced a ban on all political gatherings, noting “the decision was aimed at maintaining peace and order”.

Police authorities in the state also urged Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to cancel her planned homecoming visit due to security threats.

However, HURIWA called on the police leadership to immediately take steps “to shake off their parasitic attachment to the party that produced the current president of Nigeria” and comply with the constitution’s provisions in carrying out their duty.

HURIWA Condemns Kogi Gov Ododo

HURIWA asserted that the situation was a deliberate plot to undermine the senator’s constitutional freedom of movement and peaceful assembly. It criticised the involvement of the APC in the act and called for an investigation into the conduct of the police and its commissioner.

“Why should the Kogi State Police Command follow sheepishly the political directive of the APC governor by abusing the Police Act of 2020 and using illegal means through totally politically motivated and contrived reasons to attempt to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from exercising her constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights to freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of information?” it said.

The association decried the “deterioration of policing standards” and urged the state police commissioner to investigate and provide evidence of security threats that necessitated the ban.

“HURIWA believed that the so-called security concerns were the contrived and dangerously partisan plot of the All Progressives Congress to frustrate the PDP senator from going ahead with her preplanned rally. This is undemocratic,” It said.

Natasha Reveals Reasons For Her Removal As Chairperson Of Senate Local Content Committee

Natasha reveals reasons for her removal as Chairperson of Senate Local Content Committee. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has revealed the reason behind her removal as the Chairperson of the Senate Local Content Committee, attributing the decision to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking on the matter, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that her removal was linked to her advocacy for equitable resource distribution across Nigeria.

She alleged that Akpabio was displeased with her stance on ensuring that gas resources from the Niger Delta were utilized in northern regions, a move she believes led to her dismissal from the committee.

According to the senator, Akpabio questioned how such resources could be allocated outside the Niger Delta and took steps to halt the project.

She further asserted that her commitment to promoting inclusive development, particularly in the northern region, was the primary reason for her removal.

Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that, since assuming the role of Chairperson, she had worked to ensure that local content policies benefited all parts of Nigeria.

Natasha Reveals Reasons For Her Removal

However, she claimed that her efforts to bridge regional disparities were met with resistance, ultimately leading to her ousting from the position.

Her removal has sparked conversations about the politics surrounding resource control and regional development in Nigeria. Many of her supporters believe that her removal was politically motivated and an attempt to stifle voices advocating for equal opportunities across all regions.

Despite this setback, Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her commitment to fighting for equitable resource distribution and development in all parts of the country.

She called on Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable and ensure that national policies reflect fairness and inclusivity.

Source: TVC News.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Deliberately Violated Ban On Rally To Incite Chaos, Says Kogi Government

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan deliberately violated ban on rally to incite chaos, says Kogi Government. Mr Fanwo called on security agencies to hold Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan responsible for any security breakdown in the state.

Kogi State government has faulted the suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for holding a rally in her senatorial district, accusing the lawmaker of deliberate attempts to incite violence in 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,” Commissioner for Information Kingsley Fanwo said in a statement on Tuesday, shortly after the rally.

“Instead of respecting the law, she chose to incite chaos, disregarding the safety and stability of the state.”

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan returned to her consistency on Tuesday on a Sallah visit and addressed her teeming supporters in a rally held in Ihima, despite the ban on political gatherings and processions in the Okehi Local Government of the state.

The politician had earlier called on Nigerians to hold Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, responsible if she and her supporters were attacked during the rally.

The lawmaker also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio contracted Mr Bello to commence her recall and assassination.

Mr Fanwo, in his statement, described Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan as a serial manipulator, accusing her of using the rally to stir trouble in her senatorial district.

“This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulator to mislead the public, inciting 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 go up in flames nor permit the killing of innocent souls by the actions of the suspended Senator,” Mr Fanwo said.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Accusing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of “demonstrating a pattern of lawlessness and using lies and deceit as tools of political engagements”, Mr Fanwo called on security agencies to hold her responsible for any security breakdown in the state.

“Let it be clear that the security of every citizen in Kogi State, including that of Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, remains a priority. However, the government will not tolerate anyone deliberately provoking crises and then crying wolf when confronted with the consequences of his or her 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.