Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has outlawed public rallies and convoy movements, citing security threats, in a move widely seen as a bid to derail Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s homecoming celebration.
Announced Monday by Commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the ban follows intelligence of planned “violent rallies” masquerading as political events.
Critics, however, view it as a political maneuver to stifle opposition, especially with Ododo’s alleged shielding of ex-Governor Yahaya Bello from corruption probes drawing ire.
The measures include halting fishing in Kogi Local Government Area after a deadly clash and requiring security convoys to get state clearance.
Ododo deployed operatives to enforce order, urging citizens to report suspicious activities. Supporters of Akpoti, undeterred, vow to adapt their plans.
The restrictions, slammed as authoritarian, come amid accusations that Ododo is clinging to power by silencing dissent.
With tensions simmering, the governor insists the curbs are temporary and for public safety, but many see a deeper agenda to maintain control in a state rife with political intrigue and unresolved scandals.
