Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has issued a stern warning to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, urging him to focus on clearing his name in the ongoing N80.2 billion corruption case against him, rather than orchestrating attempts to have her recalled from the Senate.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the senator decried what she described as relentless political intimidation.
Bello, who is currently facing trial on charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been accused of fraudulent financial dealings. Meanwhile, reports have emerged alleging that he is behind a move to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate—a move she insists is an attempt to undermine the democratic mandate given to her by the people of Kogi Central.
Her statement was a direct response to remarks made by the Kogi State Government on Tuesday. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, had dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent claims that Bello, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo attempted to assassinate her, calling them “malicious falsehoods.”
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Fanwo further described the senator as “an incurable liar and serial manipulator.”
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan remained defiant, insisting that she would not succumb to intimidation or blackmail.
“I advise the former governor to focus on clearing his name over the N80.2 billion fraud allegations instead of attempting to destabilize the mandate given to me by the people of Kogi Central,” she stated. “As for me, I will continue to serve my people. I will not betray them.”
She also accused Bello of a longstanding pattern of political aggression, stating that his actions before and during the last general elections, including sponsoring attacks against her, were well documented.
“This recall attempt is just another ploy to undermine the people’s will,” she added. “It is now evident to the whole world how popular I am in my constituency. The powers that be tried to suppress the people’s voice, but my constituents emphatically said no—no to injustice, no to a fake recall, and no to Yahaya Bello and his allies.”
© Ripples Nigeria
