Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Despite ban on rallies and public gatherings imposed by the police as well as Gov. Usman Ododo, supporters of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Tuesday, flooded the streets of Okene to give her a rousing welcome back home.
The Governor had imposed a ban on public gatherings ostensibly to stop her homecoming rally, but the teeming supporters poured out to the streets in defiance.
Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, had on Monday, reinforced the Governor’s directive, claiming that the planned rally “violates the ban on political gatherings.”
The CP had urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to call off the scheduled Sallah rally in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
However, recent images circulating online from Tuesday, April 1, show enthusiastic supporters in solidarity with the suspended lawmaker chanting solidarity songs and brandishing placards with various inscriptions such as: “Welcome home, worthy daughter of Ebiraland. The people of Okene are solidly behind you,” and “The people of Adavi are solidly behind you.”
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the embattled Senator said no individual can stop her from coming to her home town.
“I’m not a bastard” and “not afraid of anyone,” she said.
Recall that the suspended Senator had accused the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment before the Senate slammed six months suspension on her.
She has since taken the matter to the international stage when she sought the intervention of Inter- Parliamentary Union, IPU.
