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December 15, 2022
The lower chamber urged the police chief to prosecute those directly and remotely responsible for the attack.
The House of Representatives has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Alkali, to investigate the attack on the campaign train of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti–Uduaghan.
The lower chamber urged the police chief to prosecute those directly and remotely responsible for the attack.
The House gave the mandate on Wednesday sequel to the adoption of a motion co-sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun and three other lawmakers who condemned the attack on the campaign train of Akpoti–Uduaghan. The lawmakers said the attack was an act of political intolerance that should not be tolerated.
Ogun in his lead debate called for the House’s intervention in the matter, pointing out that Section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of government.
He said, “The House is aware that section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his or her interests”.
He noted that the “House is also aware that section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political affiliation shall not be subjected to any form of discrimination.
“The House is informed that on December 3, 2022, suspected political thugs and hoodlums attacked the campaign train of the Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during her rally from Okene to Adavi, injuring several persons and shooting one person.
“The House is worried that despite the avowed commitment of the federal government to implement the 35% Affirmative Action, discrimination against women seeking elective posts still exists in the country.”
“The House is disturbed that at a time when all relevant stakeholders are suing for peace and calling on political actors to be tolerant of opposition, thugs and hoodlums, suspected to be sponsored by the opposition, audaciously attack the campaign train of the Senatorial candidate of a political party,” Ogun added.
The lawmakers, therefore, “condemned the attack on the campaign train of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as an act of political intolerance that should not be tolerated; urge the Inspector General of Police to investigate the attack on the campaign train of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and prosecute those directly and remotely responsible for the attack, and mandate the Committee on Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.”
Background
The Yahaya Bello-led government had asked the PDP and others to pay millions of naira before their candidates could be allowed to paste posters or distribute flyers.
In a letter dated October 24 and addressed to the PDP chairman in the state, the government demanded the payment of the fund within 14 days.
However, despite the payment by Natasha, her campaign billboards across five local government areas were recently destroyed by hoodlums suspected to be loyal to Governor Bello.
Meanwhile, there has been a clampdown on members of the opposition parties in Kogi State.
SaharaReporters had reported how thugs loyal to Bello attacked the campaign flag-off of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the state.
One person was shot while two other persons were macheted before the police repelled the attackers.
Bello had openly threatened to use firepower on members of the opposition political parties in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He also said political opponents in the state that trespasses would never see the sun again, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Speaking in Ajaokuta after inaugurating a vigilance group in October, Bello said he was standing on the initial threat he made to deal decisively with anyone saying bad things about his administration in the state.
"Be it in the state or the federal level and you think you have connection that you can use here in Kogi, unless it’s not I, Yahaya Bello that’s in charge of this government. I want to reinstate that the ‘Ira Chenyin’ I said the other time is something I mean,” the governor said.
“For that, everyone should caution his or her child and every child should caution their parents. I mean what I said the other time, firepower. Whoever thinks that the firepower I mentioned the other time is a joke, I’m well prepared. Talk is cheap.
“It’s time for elections, all the candidates, all our party flag bearers, from Senate, to Reps, to Assembly, they are not the ones contesting, I, Yahaya is the one contesting. So those contesting against them are contesting against me who have chosen them.”
Earlier Bello threatened members of the opposition political parties, saying he would "show" them.
“Whoever trespasses, if we pick him or her, he will never sight the sun again. In this coming election, I’m going to show the opposition people who is Yahaya Bello. If there is white lion, if there is no white lion, we will know in this one,” Bello said in the video obtained by SaharaReporters.
In another video, he bragged that he could handle a gun better than the people he was addressing, despite not being a security agent.
“If I hear any rumour or hear anybody murmuring, even if it’s in the person’s room and I said I want to see the person and you cannot provide him, then be prepared to be the person’s substitute,” he said.
“That’s why I’m saying it loud and clear for everyone to hear. Not just Ihima, not just about Ebira but the whole of Kogi. Because some of those people who are prepared to do evil, maybe some of them are older than me.
“You cannot hold gun more than me. For that, everyone should receive and disseminate the message. Record and play it for them that I’m ready this time around.”