Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan has criticised Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, over what she described as poor governance and lack of development, arguing that payment of workers’ salaries should not be presented as a major achievement.
The senator representing Kogi Central made the remarks in a video circulating on Tuesday, November 3, where she questioned the administration’s development record and compared it with that of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. Akpoti Uduaghan faulted the Kogi government for celebrating the payment of salaries while, in her view, failing to deliver meaningful development projects for residents.
“How come we have come this low that only thugs are being rewarded? It’s really unfortunate. No development,” she said.
She urged Ododo to assess his administration’s performance against other state governments, particularly Abia, where she said Otti had recorded visible progress despite belonging to an opposition party.
“See what other governors are doing. Look at Governor Alex Otti of Abia state, an opposition. He is the only Labour Party governor. Look at what he is achieving in his state. Yet you say you are paying salaries. Therefore, that’s an achievement. But that’s not an achievement. It is your right.”
The lawmaker maintained that paying workers is a basic responsibility of government and should not be presented as evidence of exceptional performance. She argued that residents should also measure government performance through improvements in infrastructure and other areas that directly affect their lives. Her comments place renewed attention on the performance of the Ododo administration, particularly how the state government is using public resources to deliver development projects.
By citing Abia as an example, Akpoti Uduaghan suggested that state governments should be judged not only by their ability to meet recurrent obligations but also by their capacity to provide infrastructure and improve living conditions. Otti, who belongs to the Labour Party, has become a reference point in the senator’s criticism of the Kogi government. She described his administration as an example of what could be achieved when salary payments are accompanied by other development efforts.
Akpoti Uduaghan was sworn in as senator on November 2, 2023, after the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Abuja declared her the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election held in February 2023. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker is seeking re-election in 2027 and is expected to face Yahaya Bello, Ododo’s predecessor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi Central.
Her latest criticism comes as political activities begin to build ahead of the 2027 general elections, with governance and the performance of state administrations likely to feature prominently in political discussions.
