In a dramatic turn of events, Natasha Akpoti, a political figure from Kogi State, has retracted her earlier claims of being removed from the Senate due to sexual harassment and instead accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating her ousting over her alleged involvement in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in the state.
This new twist in her political saga came during a rally she held today, where she revealed that the political pressure she faced was not linked to the accusations of sexual misconduct she had previously raised, but rather to the LNG plants she allegedly facilitated in Kogi. Akpoti’s latest statement has raised eyebrows and drawn skepticism, with many questioning the consistency of her narrative and the motives behind her change of stance.
Natasha Akpoti’s political challenges have been the subject of public scrutiny for some time. Initially, Akpoti claimed that her removal from the Senate was the result of sexual harassment by Senate President Akpabio. Her accusations were widely reported, and the allegations sparked significant public sympathy, particularly among those who rallied behind her in support of gender equality and justice. At the time, many saw her as a victim of workplace harassment, and her allegations led to a wave of calls for accountability within the Senate.
However, in a surprising reversal during her rally, Akpoti now claims that her removal was not due to sexual harassment but because of her involvement in facilitating LNG plants in Kogi State. According to her, Senate President Akpabio and former Governor Bello were part of a larger conspiracy to eliminate her due to her perceived influence in the state’s energy projects.
She told her supporters, “It wasn’t about sexual harassment; it was about LNG plants. Akpabio and Bello wanted to silence me because of the powerful LNG projects I was advocating for in Kogi State.”
Her statements suggest that her involvement with LNG projects may have put her at odds with certain political interests, leading to a targeted campaign to remove her from the Senate.
However, Akpoti’s claims regarding the LNG plants have been met with immediate resistance from official sources. The Ministry of Petroleum has come forward to deny any allegations of her involvement in facilitating LNG projects in Kogi State. The Ministry clarified that the LNG plants Akpoti mentioned were not linked to any specific facilitation efforts by her, instead citing the ongoing LNG projects and pipeline developments in the Ajaokuta area, which were already in motion before Akpoti’s political rise.
The Ministry’s denial has cast doubt on the veracity of Akpoti’s new claims, with many questioning why she would change her narrative in such a dramatic fashion, especially when the details do not seem to align with the official records.
This denial from the Ministry further complicates Akpoti’s position and raises questions about the underlying reasons behind her sudden shift in focus. While her supporters continue to rally behind her, many others on social media, particularly on Facebook, have raised doubts, accusing her of inconsistency and even emotional manipulation.
Akpoti’s sudden change in her narrative has sparked a wave of skepticism, particularly on social media. Many Facebook users have criticized her for shifting her story from a sexual harassment case to allegations of political conspiracy surrounding LNG projects. Some users have suggested that her latest claims may be an attempt to leverage the power of political blackmail against the Senate leadership and Kogi State government.
“First, it was about harassment, now it’s about LNG plants. What exactly does she want to achieve? It’s becoming difficult to trust her claims,” one Facebook user wrote in a comment that has since gained widespread attention.
Others have accused Akpoti of playing a political game, shifting her story to suit changing circumstances. “This is clearly political blackmail. She needs to come clean and stop making baseless accusations,” another user commented.
Many critics have also pointed out that Akpoti’s allegations about the LNG projects may have been timed to coincide with her political ambitions and ongoing disputes with key figures in Kogi State politics. By accusing prominent political figures like Akpabio and Bello, Akpoti may be seeking to cast herself as a victim of powerful forces, potentially positioning herself as a champion of Kogi’s development in contrast to what she portrays as a political establishment trying to suppress her efforts.
The controversy surrounding LNG projects is not new to Kogi State. The state has long been involved in discussions around the development of energy infrastructure, including the establishment of LNG facilities. However, the issue of LNG plants in Kogi is highly political, with various factions seeking to control the benefits of such projects.
Kogi State, located in Nigeria’s middle belt, is strategically positioned to host various energy projects due to its natural resources and proximity to key transportation networks. However, political infighting and competition for influence over these projects have created a tense environment, with different political figures and groups vying for control of resources and contracts associated with the energy sector.
Akpoti’s role in this complex political landscape appears to have attracted significant attention, with some political analysts suggesting that her involvement in LNG discussions may have put her at odds with powerful figures like Akpabio and Bello. By now framing her removal as a result of these energy projects, she could be positioning herself as a political martyr fighting for the development of her state.
While Natasha Akpoti’s change in narrative has raised serious questions about her motives, it remains to be seen how her political future will unfold. Her supporters continue to stand by her, while critics demand greater clarity on her claims. Whether or not her allegations against Akpabio and Bello hold any weight, the controversy surrounding her removal is far from over.
As Akpoti continues to navigate the political challenges in Kogi State, her credibility may be called into question, especially if her claims about the LNG plants continue to be disputed. The next few weeks could prove crucial in determining whether Akpoti will be able to capitalize on the political momentum she has generated or whether her shifting narrative will undermine her standing in the eyes of the public and political leaders alike.
