Natasha presents mountain of cash for empowerment
Raises vote buying concerns
By Samuel Ogunsona
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has presented a mountain of raw cash as empowement raising public fear of vote buying ahead 2027 elections.
She presented the cash at a public event in Kogi West.
Her action has sparked national conversation after the Senator was seen with large stacks of naira notes laid out on tables during a meeting with her constituents.
A short clip from the gathering, now circulating online, shows bundles of cash arranged in the hall where she met residents. The image alone was enough to divide viewers, with some calling it generosity, and others calling it politics at its worst.
For critics, the display raised questions about motive, timing, and safety.
“It’s Vote buying. This is not right,” one user on X @EnejereMichael, wrote.
Another, @IykeNwaObi, said: “This is really disgraceful and bad for her to display such cash like this all in the name of gifts to the people. This looks like vote buying to me and I really don’t encourage it. That’s why I love Peter Obi, you will never see him where there are transactional politicians.”
Others went further, questioning the broader culture of cash handouts by politicians.
“Nigeria politicians are big jokers, the citizens don’t need their money, rather build infrastructure and give them some basic amenities, rather they will choose to give them leftovers from the billions they steal,” @Agbomjrn commented.
“The way Nigerian politicians audaciously do corrupt practices in public eyes is beyond redemption. This is insane!” @iam_Temz added.
Concerns were also raised about security. @tundepeers warned: “This is chaos waiting to happen. If some bad folks descend on the table loads of cash. There will be lots of casuality. You can do ur generosity through transfer not the show off. This need to be nip in the bud to forestall future chaos. Moreso, this purely vote buying.”
But supporters pushed back, saying the moment was being taken out of context and that the senator has a long record of giving to her district.
“Where have you been? She has been distributing bikes, cars, welding machines, tailoring equipment, tricycles and minibuses on a large scale for four years. Stop reducing a sustained empowerment programme to election gimmicks. This is nothing new!” @Akudinanwaatata said.
“She has been doing it almost every 3-3 months. I have evidence,” @PrinceOfIgala added.
Another supporter, @PresidentIkemba, said: “That is the right time to do it. She has projects but the survival of his people is also crucial.”
Some defenders also pointed to her performance in office. “She is one of the highest performing Senator in the country. Go and check her community projects as against your senator,” one commenter wrote.
