Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has issued a stern warning to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, advising him to focus on defending himself against the N80.2 billion corruption charges leveled against him rather than allegedly orchestrating moves to recall her from the Senate.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Natasha expressed gratitude to her constituents for their unwavering support amid what she described as a desperate attempt to undermine her mandate. The embattled former governor is currently facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial misappropriation during his tenure.
Her remarks came in response to a statement from the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, on Tuesday, where he dismissed her claims that Bello, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo were involved in an alleged assassination plot against her. Fanwo had labeled her assertions as baseless and described her as a habitual liar attempting to manipulate public perception.
However, Natasha remained resolute, insisting that she would not be intimidated by what she termed as deliberate blackmail. She accused Bello of being more concerned with frustrating her tenure than clearing his name of the weighty corruption allegations against him.
“I strongly advise the former governor to direct his energy towards clearing his name over the fraudulent diversion of N80.2 billion rather than devising schemes to destabilize the mandate that was freely given to me by the people of Kogi Central. My focus remains on serving my people with unwavering dedication, and I will not betray their trust,” she stated.
She further alleged that Bello had orchestrated multiple attacks against her before and during the last general elections in a bid to prevent her emergence as senator. According to her, the recent attempt to recall her is just another strategy aimed at subverting the will of the people, but she assured her supporters that such efforts would be futile.
“This so-called recall attempt is merely another plot to suppress the people’s choice. It is now evident to all that I enjoy overwhelming support in my constituency. The people of Kogi Central have spoken loudly, rejecting injustice, rejecting any fake recall, and rejecting Yahaya Bello and his allies,” she affirmed.
Natasha’s remarks underscore the deepening political rift between her and the former governor, who has remained a dominant figure in Kogi politics. Meanwhile, Bello continues to battle legal troubles as the EFCC intensifies its prosecution over the multi-billion naira corruption case, a development that has cast a shadow over his political legacy
