By joshua 
BEFORE YOU DANCE TO THE DRUM OF RECALL
By Sir S.S. Lawal
31st March, 2025
1. Preamble
Let me clarify, abinitio, that I am not a card-carrying member of any
Political Party in Nigeria.
Since my 2-terms tenure of 5 years each as
Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission came to an end in 2011, I have maintained neutrality in the politics of the country.
Regarding the on-going narrative on the recall or no recall of our daughter, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, I hereby ally myself with the views of the religious clerics, socio-cultural bodies and
eminent individuals who have been cautioning on the adverse repercussions of the recall on the peace, politico-economic development, and progress of Kogi Central.
The recall process is definitely an ill-wind
that blows no good on Egbira-land.
*2. The First Public Outing of Barr Natasha (not yet a Senator then)*
It is necessary to state that up till the time of my putting together this write-up, I have never met face to face with Senator Natasha.
Many years ago when she was yet to become a Senator, she was televised from the National Assembly, delivering a historic and thought-provoking paper on Ajaokuta Iron & Steel project. My eyes were glued to the television not only because of her brilliant analysis of why the project has been stalled
for years, but also because of my frustration and displeasure as an officer who had worked as a Liaison Officer/Assistant Divisional Officer (Ajaokuta Steel Project) 1975-1976 when the project was taking off.
The locals then called me “D.O. Ene-nyuse” (D.O of Iron & Steel).
The Resident and D.O. System of local administration was then the last vestige of colonial local Government style of ruling before the 1976 LGA Reform.
Unfortunately, the completion of the project has been caught by the web of both international and local politics, and the losers have been the Kogi Central, Kogi State, and Nigeria that have been deprived of massive employment opportunities, local production and supplies of Iron & Steel products for
our construction sector, and exportation of Steel products that would have
raised the country’s GDP.
By the time the then Barr Natasha ended her
wonderful presentation, what came to the fore as my personal assessment was her sound analysis, resourcefulness, eloquence and her intellectual virtues.
These qualities triggered my *prophecy that she was, and still is, a United Nations material.*
After her election as a Senator, she brought, into display in the National Assembly, the same aura, and rare initiative to rid the Steel project of internal corruption, and join other
stakeholders to accelerate the tempo of getting the Steel project resume its operation. The question now to ask is: should the foregoing development-oriented efforts of Senator Natasha be greeted with a recall
process ?
As an Administrator, I was trained to aspire for, appreciate and reward, efficiency, excellence, and rare virtues such as embedded in Senator Natasha by God.
*3. The 5 Mini Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Projects in Ajaokuta*
Sen. Natasha utilised her usual virtues to work with the NNPC and accelerate their timely inauguration.
I am sure it was the efficacy and capacity of Sen. Natasha that led the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the beginning,to appoint her as Chairman of the Local Content Committee and member of other key Senate Committees.
If the siting of the Gas projects in Ajaokuta in the North (and not in Niger Delta
Region) and the alleged failed sexual demand of the Senate President have led to the stripping of Sen. Natasha of her membership of Senate Committees, in what way can the two factors be blamed on her ?
Whose interest was she pursuing by influencing the siting of the Gas plants in Ajaokuta ?
It would be recalled that the plants were meant to boost the industrial fortunes of Kogi Central, Kogi State, and Nigeria, while providing mass employment opportunities for all. Is it not then an irony that (as
the local adage goes) you are fasting and sacrificing because of somebody, but that person is eating and making jest of you ?
That is the case of Senator Natasha fasting and sacrificing while some people in Kogi
Central are eating and working on her recall.
Regarding the alleged failed sexual demand, are we to recall our daughter because she has refused to practise adultery in spite of God’s commandment in Exodus 20:14 ?
I believe the Holy Quran has equivalent of this divine injunction.
Finally, in all honesty, can any man encourage his wife or married daughter to practise adultery or his unmarried daughter to commit fornication ?
I am sure women would not recommend such immorality to their daughters as well.
This is where everyone should exercise restraint on the issue of recalling a performing Senator who is exhibiting morality.
*4. Socio-economic Impact of Senator Natasha in Egbira-land.*
I was in abroad and was made proud, when I watched on Channels Television the inauguration of some of the infrastructural facilities and empowerment gifts which Senator Natasha brought to our Central
Senatorial District.
I saw the Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Abba Moro) with other Senators, her husband (High Chief Uduaghan), the representative of the I.G.P, and a host of other personalities.
I thank one Hamza Lamisi and Ireyi Zubair who have helped my memory by outlining
the impactful projects and empowerment gifts which were televised during the inauguration.
I hereby itemise the lists in modified form, viz:-
i. Re-constructed and remodelled Abdul Aziz Attah Memorial College, Okene.
ii. 12 water reticulation projects with each having massive 50,000 –liters Solar-Powered Motorised water system serving 300 locations to provide 1,800 fetching points.
iii. 2,000 solar-powered street-lights spread across 30 kilometers of roads in Kogi Central.
iv. Provision of 5,000 digital learning devices to both Primary and Secondary Schools.
v. Distribution of numerous motor-cycles, Keke Napeps, Fridges, Hair Saloon equipments, sewing machines to the constituents,who were served irrespective of their political parties.
vi. Reconstructed brand new Police Station in Ihima (Ihima had been without Police Station for the past seven (7) years).
*5. Other achievements outside inauguration include:*
i. Supporting 594 Kogi Central Students in tertiary institutions at a cost of 24 million Naira within the last one year across political party lines.
ii. Facilitation of employment of many graduates now engaged in both Federal Government and private organisations.
iii. Training and empowerment of over 1,300 women and youths.
iv. Sponsored, in the Senate, bill for the establishment of Nigeria Gold Reserve and the bill for the establishment of Ihima Federal Medical Centre.
v. Establishment of furnished and well-staffed 5 constituency offices in the 5 LGAs of Kogi Central.
vi. *Awards:* Out of the 109 Senators in the country, two of them were singled out for the 2024 Thisday Newspaper Award for
excellent/impactful achievements and Senator Natasha (a first-term
Senator who had just spent over a year) was one of the two.
Also, in the historic Award Ceremony for 65 Women making impact which Arise News Television staged in the night of 31st March 2025, Sen. Natasha was again one of the proud recipients.
6. My paragraphs 4-5 above are just few of examples of the achievements of Sen. Natasha within about a year of her first-term as Senator.
Those calling for recall of Sen. Natasha should interrogate their conscience and
point out any of the past Senators from Kogi Central who has as much legacies of performance as Sen. Natasha has.
Let me sound a note of caution at this stage as the holy word of God says in *Hosea 4:6 “My people perish for lack of knowledge”* An example of such knowledge is in *Isaiah 5:20* which says: *“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil”,*
I am sure the holy Quran has equivalent.
The essence of disclosing this latter word of God is that while most people have the
knowledge of it, some few ones do not; and because of mere token change they could call what is good bad and vice versa to their own detriment.
I therefore pray that such detriment will not be their portion in Jesus glorious Name, Amen.
The golden rule is that *truth* rather than *lie* should be our watch-word at all times, whether in the current conversation on Sen.
Natasha or any other issue.
While some may carelessly ignore the efficacy of the word of God, *Isaiah 55:11* has warned that none of God’s words will return to Him void. This is to say His word cannot fail to accomplish its purpose.
*7. Advice to Ihima Public Officers*
My dear brothers and sisters, permit me to share my thoughts with you.
I feel I possess the right credentials to do so.
By the grace of God Almighty, I have meritoriously served in the corridors of power under prominent political officers, both Civilian and Military.
For instance, I was the Permanent Secretary in charge of Kwara State Liaison Officer under
Governor Adamu Attah of blessed memory during Alh. Shehu Shagari regime.
I served under military Governor Alwali Jauji Kazir as his Director General (Government House Administration) 26th October 1990 –12th September, 1991. This position is what Civilian regime has changed to Chief of Staff today. It was the 1988 Public Service Reform that changed the title of Permanent Secretary to Director-General in those days.
Furthermore, by God’s grace, I was the pioneer Director-General (Govt. House Admin.) in Kogi State under Col. Danladi Zakari (13th September –31st December, 1991).
All above happened before my last post as Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission.
While I do acknowledge the fact that some other people have held, or are holding higher position(s) than me, kindly listen to the pieces of advice I have to offer below:
*8. Firstly,* do not allow any body to use your own very hand to slap your face. The typical example is the ongoing case of Sen. Natasha. It is a total shame of the highest order to attempt to recall the golden fish, the rare vocal and talented asset God has graciously gifted us with.
The Holy Bible is always right when it says: *“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and his own house” (Mark 6:4).
9. *Secondly,* play the politics of socio-economic development by asking
yourself what *laurels* have I brought home ?When the late Dr. John Lawani was the Health Commissioner in the old Kwara State, he brought to Kogi Central an ultra-modern Hospital, Obangede, and Ihima Comprehensive Health Centre. His name cannot be forgotten today on these legacies.
When I was the Director-General(Perm. Sec.) in the Ministry of Information, old Kwara State, Radio Kwara was a parastatal under my Ministry. Alh. Shaibu Musa of Okene who was a Board member of Radio Kwara cooperated with me and we brought Otite Radio home.
In appreciation of this, our reputable singer, Alh. Sule Adeku of Okengwe, sang in praises of both of us in one of his annual outings. A cassette on this is still available today.
Furthermore, when I was Director-General
(Govt. House Admin) in the old Kwara, the Unicef kindly offered me a borehole to be sited in my house. I diverted it to the public place near my house while I directed the 2nd borehole to be erected at Ohueta General
Mosque compound near the late Alh. Siaka Yakubu’s house.Thus, holding of public office is for offering meritorious services/development to the people and not killing or maiming people.
Please note that Mark Anthony in *Julius Caesar* has aptly reminded us that: *“The Evil that men do lives after them”.*
10. *Thirdly,* I recommend to our politicians to borrow a leaf from the golden advice of our late elder statesman, Alh. Waziri Ibrahim of GNPP, whose belief was “Politics Without Bitterness”.
*11. Conclusion*
I conclude by appealing to all and sundry to please give peace a chance in Kogi Central, and avoid anything that can halt our progress and development.
I also appeal to the proponents of recall process to please desist from calling good bad.
Senator Natasha is our pride, our rare asset, a vocal voice, and a resourceful God-given gift whose achievements can complement the efforts of the Kogi State Government.