Nigerian young entrepreneur and social activist, Tanimu Kazeem has accused Kogi state government of blackmailing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan Junior.
It would be recalled that the Kogi State Government reportedly requested that Akpoti-Uduaghan be invited to be questioned about alleged “terrorism-related activities” by the heads of Nigeria’s security agencies.
The government expressed concern that politicians had purposefully continued to train terrorists in the state and import them from neighbouring states despite the current administration’s extensive security operations to rid the state of terrorism.
In a recent statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, in Lokoja, the State Government alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan had exhibited enough actions to be invited over terrorism-related activities, especially with the manner by which the PDP and organisations linked to her had been advocating for the release of an arrested terrorist called Safiu.
The allegation has however generated reactions among concerned Nigerians, especially youths, as well as PDP members within and outside the state, with many saying the allegation by the state government was politically motivated.
While addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Kazeem described the allegation by the Kogi State Government as “baseless and laughable.”
Kazeem said that the news being peddled about Natasha blackmailing her husband into marrying her is “false and is being sponsored by the Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello because Natasha exposed his relationship with the terrorist Safiu who has been arrested.”
According to him, “Natasha has never blackmailed anyone and there was no time she blackmailed her husband into marrying her.”
“The kind of politics being played by the Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello is childish and should be resisted by the people of Kogi state.
“Natasha is not contesting for the governorship seat neither is she contesting for the senate position with Yahaya Bello .
“Yahaya Bello name is not on the ballot box in Kogi Central where Natasha is contesting the Senate Seat yet he is hell-bent on tarnishing the image of Natasha because she is politically stronger than him and his senatorial candidate.
“Why on earth should Yahaya Bello accused Natasha of blackmailing her husband into marrying her knowing well that they just had a baby and are living perfectly fine.
Kazeem added that; “Since they got married , we haven’t heard of any marital issues between Natasha and her Husband yet Yahaya Bello is busy blackmailing them before the public with false documents.