Tag: Natasha

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district at the Senate, has been described as a symbol of hope based on her innovative projects across her constituency.

In an article tagged, ‘With Natasha, the future is still female’, a public affairs analyst and author, Nnaemeka Oruh, said the senator has risen above stereotypes, focusing on innovative projects and advocating for a bottom-up approach to governance.

According to him, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has become a beacon of hope for Nigerians yearning for selfless leadership, saying that in just two months, she initiated impactful projects, including a streetlight project, job opportunities, and the distribution of foodstuffs to her constituents.

He said: “Patriarchal Nigeria has tried to tag her as the “Beauty Queen of Nigeria’s Senate”. Yet she moved beyond that with impactful projects and even drove for a re-configuration of how things are done to focus on a bottom-up approach.

“Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, beloved by her people of Kogi Central, but more than that, relentlessly working for a new Nigeria anchored on the innovativeness championed by young people, seems to be the last one standing.

“A bright hope for a country in dire need of selfless leadership. A different brand of politician, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has embraced her emergence as the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District with exceptional drive to change the landscape of Nigerian politics.

“In two months, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is already touted as the symbol of hope for Nigeria. Several persons have spoken in awe of how two months into her position as the Senator representing Kogi Central, Distinguished Senator Natasha had started bringing joy to her people including through her streetlight project, a handful of job opportunities, the distribution of foodstuff to her constituents in line with the palliative provision of the Presidency, amongst others.

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He added: “Goodness Alike, a young female entrepreneur from Anambra thinks Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is “Hope. She makes me believe”.

“Susan Nwuke who runs a fashion house in Lugbe, Abuja says that: “I got to know Natasha when they first dug up her community roads to disrupt her election. She is a fine determined woman and I want my children to be like her”.

“Gradually, and with impactful actions, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has begun to redefine what leadership should be about in a country in dire need of vision and symbol of hope.

“The rumour mills are also ripe with several engagements by the dogged celebrity Senator to bring to bear purposeful action to change the state of Nigerian women and even contribute to the revitalisation of the Nigerian economy using cerebral and innovative ways.

“Against all odds, it seems that as one Nigerian woman is taken down, another rears her head and re-emphasises what we all know — the future is woman, and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan holds the torch.”

Deputy Senate president, Jibrin Barau has commended the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for always advocating for her constituents on the floor of the red chamber.

Barau gave the commendation during plenary on Thursday, November 30.

He said: “It’s commendable how you always stand for your people (Kogi Central). That’s good of you.”

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, November 30, by the senator’s chief press secretary, Arogbonlo Israel.

Earlier, Senator Natasha while lending her voice on the 2024 Appropriation Bill commended President Bola Tinubu for the 2024 “Budget of Renewed Hope” presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 29.

Senator Natasha said: “His (Tinubu) speech clearly showed Nigeria is set forward on the path of economic growth, which we intend will foster macroeconomic stability. Mr President also mentioned that his core focus will be children. And we speak about children, that means their education, security and health will be a priority.”

Read Also: Akpabio names Natasha, others as chairmen of Senate committees

She also lamented the neglect of Kogi Central from governance, especially from budgetary provisions from the federal coffers.

She stated: “Our entire educational system (primary, secondary and tertiary) is in a dilapidated state. Our public schools have no roof, and the students sit on the floor (cut in…). I have with me pictorial and video evidence to back my claim. A quite number of schools about 80% of the public schools are in a dilapidated state. We seek improvement to address this issue as well as the primary healthcare centres.

“Most of the primary healthcare sectors in Kogi Central are not equipped and there is a need for improvement to put them in a good state.”

She also called for the rehabilitation of police stations and other security outfits in the constituency.

The senator added: “It will interest the house to note that police officers and DSS officers at times go to situation spots on okada (motorcycles) and sometimes have to walk long distances because they are not equipped.”

In her closing remarks, she urged the federal government to look into the oil and steel industry in the State, especially the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which she believes will bring prosperity to the people if well harnessed.

Nigerians have continued to react to the unanimous judgement delivered by the three-man panel of the Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal led by Justice K. A. Orjiako on Wednesday, September 6, in favour of the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Recall the INEC returning officer, Rotimi Ajayi, a professor, had declared Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress winner of the February 25 poll after polling a total of 52,132 votes against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s 51,763 votes – a development that stirred mixed reactions among the two leading political parties in the State.

Speaking on the development, a Lagos-based public analyst and journalist, Arogbonlo Israel said that having been displeased by the outcome of the election, Natasha filed a lawsuit against Ohere, APC and INEC before the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kogi, challenging the declaration of the APC candidate as the winner by the electoral umpire.

He said: “In her petition, Natasha said Ohere (1st respondent) was not duly elected as claimed by INEC adding that the latter should declare her winner and also issue her certificate of return since she scored the majority of lawful votes in the said election.

Read Also: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: I will challenge my sack at Appeal Court, Kogi Senator Ohere vows

“The issue in contention is hinged on the sole ground that Ohere was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.

“According to the tribunal, the outcome of the election had to do with errors of calculation, miscalculations, or exclusion of lawful votes, to the disadvantage of the petitioners. This, however, did not sit well with the respondents (Ohere, APC and INEC) who had in their counter affidavit urged the tribunal to dismiss the case over what they described as noncompliance with the electoral act.

“In its wisdom, the tribunal dismissed the motion by the respondent’s senior counsel for lacking merit. In the said judgement, the tribunal held: “There is no complaint bothering on the ground of non-compliance with the Act with respect to the said election as pleaded. The motion is clearly misconceived. It hereby fails and is accordingly dismissed”.

“It is also worthy of note that the omission of election results from the polling units 037, 038, 045, 047, 050, 051, 052, 053, and 054 all in Ganaja Township Ward 14 of Ajaokuta LGA, was deliberately and unlawfully done to reduce votes of the petitioner who garnered massive support from the affected polling units. Despite attesting to the same results whose party agents signed, the respondent could not prove the claim that the said results were not collated at the ward level thereby shooting himself in the leg.

Arogbonlo further stated: “Based on findings, the report presented during the hearing to discredit the polling units in contention, in its view, the tribunal said was an “afterthought, self-serving and lacking in probative value”. The said document by the provisions of Section 83(3) of the Evidence Act is clearly inadmissive having been made after the institution of Natasha’s petition.

“Without mincing words, Ohere must come out with clean hands in this case by proving how he emerged as the candidate with the majority of lawful votes in the said election as claimed instead of giving false hope to gullible followers who might be swayed by emotions. The law is not ambiguous on this matter, it is clear and visible to the blind. The clean hands doctrine is based on the maxim of equity which states that one “who comes into equity must come with clean hands”.

“This doctrine requires the court to deny equitable relief to a party who has violated good faith with respect to the subject of the claim, hence, a relief cannot be granted if not sought for. On this note, getting justice in this case for Ohere is like a camel going through the eye of a needle as the law is supreme and respects no man.”