The pro-democracy group also said that such action by her concerned constituents would help put lawmakers on their toes to serve them well.

The group made the this known in a statement issued in Lokoja by its President, Mr Ifeanyi Odili.

It expressed worry over what it described as “avoidable” crisis between embattled suspended Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio a few weeks ago.

According to the group, the incident has put Nigeria’s image on trial before the global community.

The CSO said it was worried that, rather than addressing the core issues surrounding her (Akpoti-Uduaghan) suspension within the framework of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, she chose to “engage in a campaign of calumny against the Senate as an institution.”

“It’s unfortunate that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s activities within and outside the country since the beginning of the controversy have cast an unfortunate dent on the image of Nigeria, for which she must apologise.

“This is nothing but gross misconduct against Nigeria,” it said.

It advised respected Nigerian leaders to always identify when not to play opposition politics with delicate national issues, in the best interest of the nation.

“More worrisome is the fact that she has distorted the facts preceding her suspension and curiously held on to her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President as the reason for the initial actions taken against her.

“Taking such misrepresentation to the world stage and representing Nigeria illegally at the Inter Parliamentary Union to air such views can be described as nothing but gross misconduct against the country.

“She needs to apologise. This should not be muddled up with politics, the group said.

The group wondered why Sen. Natasha had abandoned her faith in the Nigerian judiciary.

According to the group, since she has already taken her grievances to the courts, one would have expected her to allow due process to take its course.

It argued that resorting to media trials, seeking sympathy from foreign audiences, Akpoti-Uduaghan has watered down whatever sympathy she could have gained from them and Nigerians at large.

“Her current confrontational approach serves no productive purpose other than to bring ridicule to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“As a public official, she has a responsibility to uphold the dignity of her office and promote national cohesion, rather than dragging the country’s name through unnecessary international controversies,” the group said.

The CSO commended the electorate of Kogi Central for exercising their constitutional rights to initiate a recall process.

“This is a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy,” it said.NAN

The forum’s Executive Director, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, also described those making the call as enemies of the state.

Shinkafi said it was an attempt by some self-centred politicians to create a political upheaval and destabilise the state just recovering from years of armed bandits’ siege.

He said it was outrageous for those he described as failed politicians in the state to sponsor some youths and other proteges to be clamouring for a state of emergency in the state.

Shinkafi said that the call was even coming at a time that security and peace had significantly improved in the state.

According to him, the peace is now paving way for economic activities and massive infrastructural development which had eluded the people of the state in the 13 years of unprecedented armed banditry.

“Those making this call should not only be ignored but also questioned by security agents to unravel their agenda and sponsors.

“No right thinking citizen will take these political hirelings seriously, as they are agents provocateurs doing the bidding of their sponsors,” he said.

Shinkafi said that Gov. Dauda Lawal had been providing strong, progressive, visionary and purposeful leadership, working in synergy with President Bola Tinubu and military authorities, to crush armed banditry in the state.

“It is democracy at its finest. Zamfara citizens have suffered enough due to protracted armed bandits attacks, kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling and displacement from ancestral homes.

“It is time to rebuild the state, boost economic activities and provide fruits of democracy that will assuage the people’s sufferings,” he said.

Shinkafi urged politicians in the state to eschew politics of bitterness and contribute to transforming it, saying it was time for exhibition of patriotism.

He said that Lawal was not the issue and that he should be allowed to do the job he was elected to do without any undue distraction.

The executive director commended the president and the military for sustained onslaughts against armed bandits and other criminal elements in the state in particular and the North-West zone in general.

“This is in tandem with the provision of Section 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” he said. (NAN)