Feud between Natasha, Gov Bello; Nigerian ethnic nationalities youth leaders calls for calm, seize fire

— Wants President Mohammadu Buhari to intervene

The Nigerian ethnic nationalities youth leaders, (NENYLC), has called for calm between Governor Yahaya Bello and Barr. Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan, in the ongoing face-oft between the parties.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja yesterday, the leader of the group, Comrade Terry Obeih, President General, NENYLC and President, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council, said that the apex Coalition body, consisting of over 407 ethnic groups in Nigeria is extremely concerned over the recent excessive imbroglio between the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahayah Adoza Bello and Barr. Natasha Apoti- Uduaghan, PDP Kogi Central Senatorial District candidate.

The group therefore called on Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene and ensure peaceful resolution of all ensuing vagaries of crises and political animosity, while demanding all law enforcement agents and security apparatus and institutional architecture to ensure detailed investigation and thorough background check is carried out on this whole allegations raised for detailed investigation and thorough prosecution at a court of competent jurisdiction.

He noted that issue was based on allegations and counter- allegations of terrorism escapades and hobnobbing with one “Shefiu” and leading further threats of attacks, media maligning-cum aggressive vilifications and intimidation between both parties, consequently causing hydraheaded tensions and fears in Kogi State.

He said the State is strategically positioned between North and South on the borderline which serves as melting point of national unity and stability.

“To all right thinking members of the society we see this as symptoms of political attrition and vendetta against each other, but we are quick to draw a line of caution that Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan is a woman and needed to be treated with care and cautious understanding, most importantly our women needed to be encouraged rather than discouraged by such impending calamitous tendencies, due to the fact that we need to thread cautiously as we approach the 2023 general elections.

“we hereby use this medium to alert the law enforcement agents to ensure adequate security and peaceful process, in view of some agent provocateurs who are hellbent in causing political, ethnic and religious crises and tensions by overheating the polity with uncouth and unguided statements capable of destroying the fragile peace we are currently battling with to sustain.

“The two contending forces are both youths within our context. As a matter of promotion of democracy and inclusion of women and youths in politics and governance, we call on His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya A. Bello to reconsider his stance on this feud as a leader and lover of democracy in the state.

“Persistence of this rift will make the atmosphere unsafe for women participation in politics and governance. We therefore, urge both parties as well, to develop a cordial relationship having come from same ethnic group, Senatorial District, state and peer group in order to bring development to bear on the Constituency, State and the nation at large.

“Relevant stakeholders in the state should also play a role in resolving this situation. Partisanship shouldn’t bring political divide but exchange of views and ideas for the common development of the people.

“We finally demand a seize fire from all points of interest and attacks forthwith. We have emphatically spoken.