By Newsmata
Kinsmen of Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, embroiled in sexual harassment scandal, have risen in his defence, expressing their dissatisfaction with just a suspension slammed on his traducer, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district at the National Assembly.
Speaking Thursday evening under the aegis of Afe Annang, a foremost socio-cultural organisation in Annang Nation, Akwa Ibom State where Senator Akpabio hails from, they called on the embattled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituency to recall her.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the Senate had on Thursday, March 7, suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions which found her guilty of misconduct and failure to appear before the committee.
The suspension was the fallout of sexual harassment allegations she levelled against the Senate president.
Atai Afe Annang, His Majesty Obong Blaise Awakama, who spoke on behalf of his people at a press conference held at the organisation’s Secretariat in Abak Local government area, said, “We are not satisfied with only the suspension of the Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. We think her constituency should recall her. She should be given proper advice and orientation or replaced by another person. I don’t think that type of conduct is what any Nigerian let alone a woman should carry to the Senate”.
Obong Awakama, who said they were compelled to react to the vexing controversial national issue causing widespread publicity in the media, warned against any political plot to ease their respected son out of office as they couldn’t sit idly to see the adversaries succeed.
According to him, “The issues at stake as we gather from the mass media include routine change of seating allocation in the Senate affecting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan which she sees as offensive and discriminatory leading her to further suggest sexual harassment by the distinguished Senate President, Senator Godswilll Akpabio.
“How did an ordinary routine change of seating arrangement arising from the incidence of senators cross-carpeting, necessitating such changes become an issue of sexual discrimination and sexual harassment?
“Every Senator represents a people. Distinguished Godswilll Akpabio represents the people of Annang Nation, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district of Akwa Ibom state. He represents the entire people of Nigeria as the Senate president. We are proud of and supportive of him.
“No female senator should be used as a front to defame him. If there is an organised political plot/ controversy to ease him out of office, we shall not sit and cannot sit idly by, to see the adversaries succeed.
“Annang Nation has sacrificed and contributed a lot to our dear Nation Nigeria, and her son the Senate president deserves to be treated with honour and decorum. He must be so treated.
“A false claim of sexual harassment, which has become a matter of litigation should not and can’t be used as an instrument of political harassment by political antagonists. A word is sufficient to the wise”.