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Natasha; Igbo Group Lauds Senate for Standing by Eye Witness Account Rendered by Deputy Chief Whip
By Our Reporter
Ohaneze Stakeholders Forum has commended the Nigerian Senate for the solidarity with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over the refusal to probe the allegation of sex harassment against Senator Natasha , representing Kogi Central.
A statement released on Wednesday accused Kogi lawmaker of inadvertently trying to blackmail and discredit the Senate President.
According to the President and Secretary of OSF, Ikechuckwu Nwolisa and Okonkwo Chimdi lauded the Senate and Nigerians for standing by the Senate President on the allegation, describing it as an attempt to tar the hard earned image and integrity of the leaders of the National Assembly.
While acknowledging Senators and Nigerians for their firm stance, in line with justice and fairness, stating that their position of treating the allegation with ignominy was laudable.
Ohaneze Stakeholders Forum OSF accused Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan of fabricating falsehood, lies as her way of life and now against the Senate President, saying that she lack credibility and integrity.
For rehearsing an old worn out stories, Natasha had a premeditated plans to run down the good name already made by Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly in his quest for nations building.
The body asked Senator Natasha to draw an advise from her elderly colleague, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa who opined the situation as pecuniary and unthinkable.
While describing Senator Natasha as controversial, the body gave an instance of her acceptance of Chairmanship of local content committee among many others and her attraction of five LNG project to Kogi state, saying she is always in the news foe wrong reasons .
“An Igbo group, Ohaneze Stakeholders Forum (OSF) has lambasted the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over the allegation of sexual harassment she levelled against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
“OSF in a press statement issued on Wednesday accused accused the Kogi federal lawmaker of peddling falsehood in order to blackmail and discredit the Senate President.”
“The group in the statement signed by its President, Ikechukwu Nwolisa and Secretary, Okonkwo Chimdi, however, hailed the Senate and Nigerians for standing solidly behind Akpabio in the unfolding premeditated grand designs to impugn the integrity of the leader of the National Assembly.”
“OSF said it was noteworthy that the senators and Nigerians stood by the truth, fairness and justice by treating the allegation against Akpabio with ignominy that it rightly deserved.”
“OSF said the latest antics of Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio showed that she lacked integrity and credibility, expressing concerns that Akpoti-Uduaghan was in the habit of notoriously fabricating falsehood and lies against accomplished male citizens in order to remain relevant and boost her dented image.”
“OSF said, “Akpoti-Uduaghan is merely “rehearsing an old, worn out stories, which she notoriously peddle against high-profile men to blackmail them. Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, is undoubtedly not the first to be so accused by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of sexually harassing her. For Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing every man of wanting to sleep with her is now a slogan.”
“Just as Senator Florence Ita-Giwa said that that no right thinking distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would descend this low to blackmail a man for pecuniary gains. It is utterly despicable.”
“The questions begging for answers in the show of shame by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan are many. Why is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan always in the news for wrong reasons? Why is she always alleging sexual harassment in order to trend in the public psyche? Is this the only option available to her to seek relevance? Her actions and public utterances are appalling and unbecoming of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“Why did she not cry wolves of being sexually harassed when she was made the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content? Why did she accept the Chairmanship of the Local Content Committee from someone who was harassing her sexually? She ought to have rejected the appointment as a devlish ploy to lure and entice her into an unholy romantic journey with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
“This controversial Senator didn’t also raise an alarm that she was being harassed sexually when she leveraged on her privileged position as chairperson of the Senate committee on Local Content to influence the location of five gas facilities at her state, Kogi state. It’s sad and more disturbing that her co-traveller in this journey to pull down the President of the Senate, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is her husband, could not persuade his wife to site one of the gas facilities in his home state, Delta State, which is a major oil producing state.”
“She has to wait until she was removed as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content in February 2025 apparently for misconduct and allocated another seat before she came to her senses that Akpabio requested for an amorous relationship with her in December 2023. Why wait for this long before appearing on the national television to spill the milk? It shows that her action was a pure blackmail.”
“We believe the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Onwaebonyi that the story of sexual harassment was borne out of frustration of being removed as chairperson of the Grade A and lucrative Senate Committee on Local Content and nothing more. Having been removed, she decided to deploy her usual tactics by blackmailing the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
“It’s her normal ways of life. Many prominent male citizens have become her victims- we can name them, former Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Dino Melaye and and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Possibly Senator Godswill Akpabio would not be the last man to be blackmailed by this desperate lady,” added OSF, in the statement.
Meanwhile, the Ohaneze group offered advice to the embattled Kogi Senator.
OSF counselled her to be creative and tactful going forward by initiating fresh ideas to achieve her goal of blackmailing innocent men.
The group said Nigerians are no longer cajoled by her old-fashioned stories of accusing innocent prominent Nigerian men of sexually harassing her.
“These tactics of pointing accusing fingers of sexual harassment at men who have disagreement with her is worn out and no longer giving her desired outcome. She should seek other ways of carrying out her trade of blackmailing men to advance her political career.”
OSF praised the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Onwaebonyi for his boldness and courage in giving true and authentic accounts of the senators’ attendance of Akpabio’s birthday ceremony in December 2023.
According to the group, Onwaebonyi’s accurate account of the sequence of events which took place during the Senate President’s birthday celebrations in Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene in December 2023 has put a lie to the accusation by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“In that bold interview on the national television, Senator Onyekachi Onwaebonyi, the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, has ended the controversy generated by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unwarranted vituperations. From the account of Senator Onwaebonyi, it was clear that Akpoti-Uduaghan was out to blackmail the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio and win undeserved public sympathy.”
“We advise that whoever misses the interview to look for the tape and listen to it in order to be better informed and arrive at rational judgement and draw incontrovertible conclusions,” the statement further stated.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has issued a decisive deadline for the submission of the state’s 2025 budget.
His directive follows delays in re-presenting the budget, raising concerns over efficiency and governance. The governor has urged all responsible authorities to act promptly, warning that any further setbacks will not be tolerated.
Simultaneously, the Rivers State House of Assembly has granted the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) one last opportunity to appear before lawmakers. The decision comes after his repeated failure to honour previous summons, creating frustration among legislators.
During a tense parliamentary session, a prominent lawmaker called for patience while setting a strict deadline. “Let us give him one more chance, Mr Speaker,” the lawmaker urged. “I echo my colleagues’ sentiments—this is the final time we should debate this issue. He has 72 hours, just 72 hours. If he fails to appear by Monday, then we cannot blame anyone but him.”
However, their warning is clear: further delays will not be tolerated. Should the RSIEC Chairman fail to comply within the stipulated timeframe, serious repercussions could follow, including potential damage to public trust in the electoral body and the state’s governance system.
As tensions rise, all eyes remain on the RSIEC Chairman to see whether he will finally heed the Assembly’s call or face the consequences of continued non-compliance.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Gov. Sule Abdullahi of Nasarawa State has paid glowing tributes to Mr James Garba, a late former director of the Department of State Services, who was laid to rest in Kyari, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sule, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, described the deceased as a man who lived a life of godliness, modesty and charity.
“There are special people in our lives who never leave us, even after they are gone, and such fittingly describes late James Garba.
“He was always rendering assistance and showing concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return,” he stated.
In her tribute, wife of the deceased, Hadiza Garba, said her late husband was a humble man who always put the needs of others before his own.
According to her, she will remember her husband for his moral standards, integrity and intelligence which he stood him out a rare gem.
On her part, his eldest daughter, Dr Deborah Usman, instilled in her and her siblings the virtues of tolerance, honesty and the love of Christ.
Usman pledged to honour her late father’s memory by sustaining his legacy of peace, faith and love for community.
For Rev. John Hayab and Dr Bagat Job, Northern CAN chairman and ECWA president respectively, Garba would be remembered for his laudable contributions to the sustenance of peace in Ham land.
Also speaking, the Kpop Ham, Dr Danladi Maude, was a remarkable patriot who left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew him.
Represented by Bello Shamaki, the district head of Daddu, the traditional ruler noted that Garba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
Garba died on February 20 at the age of 81 after a brief illness.
He was a pioneer staff of the Department of State Services who worked as part of the security detail of two past presidents before retiring in 1994.
In a pivotal development in Rivers State politics, Governor Siminialayi Fubara has extended a formal invitation to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and other legislators for a strategic meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The invitation, issued by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, signifies the first time Governor Fubara has officially addressed Amaewhule as the Assembly’s Speaker.
The letter, dated 7th March, acknowledges an earlier correspondence from the governor on 5th March, in which he confirmed receipt of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
According to the invitation, Governor Fubara has directed that Speaker Amaewhule and his fellow lawmakers attend this meeting to discuss key legislative and administrative matters that affect the state’s governance.
These include:
Providing a Functional Legislative Space: Ensuring that the State House of Assembly has a suitable venue for its sittings remains a priority, as legislative proceedings are fundamental to governance.
Resolving Unpaid Allowances and Remuneration: The issue of outstanding salaries and allowances for lawmakers is expected to be addressed, which could ease tensions and foster cooperation.
Presentation of the State Budget: Budgetary discussions will be central to the meeting, as the approval of financial plans is essential for the execution of government projects.
Other Vital Governance Matters: Additional topics concerning the state’s development and administrative efficiency will also be on the agenda.
The lawmakers have been requested to meet with Governor Fubara at his office on Monday, 10th March, at 10:00 a.m.
As the state watches closely, this engagement could determine whether cooperation will be restored within Rivers State’s political framework or if further discord lies ahead.