***As She Brings Education, Hope to Fulani Settlements in Kogi
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has opened up about the quiet fear and political intimidation that shadowed her controversial suspension from the Senate, revealing that many of her colleagues who sympathized with her ordeal did so in private — too afraid of political backlash to stand with her publicly.
Speaking at the commissioning of a newly built modern market in Okene, the senator described her suspension as “illegal and politically motivated,” saying it exposed the culture of fear that governs political conduct within Nigeria’s legislative chambers.
“When you face persecution in government, isolation comes naturally,” she said. “Even when people are sympathetic, they fear to associate with you openly. Many senators called, visited, and prayed for me — but in public, they couldn’t show it. I don’t hold it against them; fear is a powerful weapon in politics.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan disclosed that her suspension not only tested her personal resilience but also disrupted the execution of constituency projects in Kogi Central, as contractors faced bureaucratic bottlenecks and political interference.
“The 2025 budget became active while I was on illegal suspension,” she said. “Many contractors struggled to get award letters simply because the projects were allocated to Kogi Central. Politics made progress difficult.”
Despite the setbacks, she said she refused to allow her people to suffer the consequences of her political trials.
“It was my punishment to bear, not theirs,” she said. “Even though over 80 percent of our projects were removed from the budget, I fought to keep development alive.”
Marking her second anniversary in office, Senator Natasha used the moment not for self-pity but for renewal — commissioning model schools in Osara, Adavi Local Government Area, aimed at transforming education access in rural and nomadic communities.
The newly inaugurated schools — each comprising six classrooms and two dormitories — are designed to bring quality education to Fulani settlements and underserved communities long neglected by government policy.
“Education must not be a privilege; it is a right,” she declared. “Every child — whether from Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, or Ogori-Magongo — deserves a safe, modern, and dignified learning environment. That is what this project represents.”
She emphasized that bridging the educational gap between rural and urban children remains a core part of her legislative mission, vowing to continue using her platform to challenge systemic neglect and promote inclusive growth.
Beyond education, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s two-year scorecard reflects an ambitious development blueprint for Kogi Central.
Her projects include: 40 solar-powered water reticulation systems across communities,Installation of smart solar streetlights, Construction of 160 modern market shops, Upgrading of primary healthcare facilities, and
Empowerment programmes.
Community leaders and residents at the event praised her efforts as unprecedented, describing her as “a leader who remembers the forgotten.”
Mrs. Maimuna Yusuf, a parent from one of the Fulani communities, spoke emotionally of the relief the new schools have brought:
“Before today, our children trekked long distances to attend schools in other towns. Now, they have one in their community. Senator Natasha has given us more than buildings — she has given us dignity.”
For Senator Natasha, the experience of isolation, persecution, and quiet support from fearful colleagues has only strengthened her resolve.
“Public office is not a reward; it’s a responsibility,” she said. “If I were thinking of recouping campaign or court expenses, these projects would not exist. Leadership is about people — not self.”
As she stood before cheering constituents, surrounded by grateful parents and excited pupils, her message was unmistakable: she may have been silenced for a moment, but never defeated.
In Kogi Central, her brand of politics now carries a new meaning — one that builds, includes, and endures.