… Reveals he earlier approached Akpabio to leave his ‘joy’ alone

… Saraki calls for transparent probe

… South-South women protest Natasha’s alleged disrespect to Akpabio, demands apology

By Abubakar Yunusa

High Chief Emmanuel O. Uduaghan, husband of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has raised concerns over what he describes as the continued harassment of his wife by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, despite an earlier agreement to resolve the matter amicably.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Uduaghan said he had initially refrained from commenting on the issue but felt compelled to speak due to recent developments that he believes are distracting from the core allegations.

“Without prejudice to the ongoing legal proceedings, I wish to emphasize that my wife was duly elected by her people due to the immense love, respect, and confidence they have in her, and she is committed to delivering quality representation to her district and the nation at large,” he said.

Uduaghan described his wife as a devoted partner and reaffirmed his trust in her, stating that she has remained truthful even in the face of adversity.

He revealed that after learning of her concerns about the Senate President, he took steps to address the matter directly.

“My wife has confided in me about her interactions with the Senate President, whom I considered a family friend. In response, I approached the matter with the utmost maturity and responsibility, as it is my duty as a traditional leader who respects constituted authority and upholds core family values,” Uduaghan stated.

According to him, he personally met with Akpabio and urged him to treat his wife with respect, emphasizing the importance of their long-standing friendship.

“We reached an understanding and agreed to resolve the issue amicably,” he added.

However, Uduaghan claimed that despite this agreement, the alleged harassment had persisted.

“Despite this agreement, my wife continues to express concerns about the harassment she has endured from the Senate President,” he said.

He called on the Senate leadership to ensure that his wife is treated with dignity.

“I now respectfully urge the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate President to treat my beloved wife with the respect and dignity she truly deserves while the relevant authorities and the court determine the underlying issues,” he added.

Saraki calls for transparent probe

Bukola Saraki, former senate president, has called for a transparent investigation into allegations at the heart of the clash between Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The fray between Akpabio, the senate president, and Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, started over a recent seat re-arrangement in the red chamber.

Akpoti-Uduaghan fought fiercely against her new seat position following the re-arrangement, alleging that the move was an attempt to silence her.

The clash reached a crescendo on Friday after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the senate president of making sexual advances towards her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.

“Mine is the case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him,” she said.

The allegation spurred reactions from notable Nigerians, including a lawsuit against Akpoti-Uduaghan by Ekaette Akpabio, the senate president’s wife.
Others have called for an investigation into the claims made by the Kogi senator.
Adding his voice to the debate, Saraki, in a post on social media, said the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions must probe the allegation tabled by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He added that “both parties must submit to the investigation, fully cooperate with the committee, and stake their claims before it”.

‘This is not the first time a Senate President would appear before the Committee to aid it in the conduct of a transparent and open investigation,” the post reads.

“I remember during the 8th Senate when a Senator claimed that I imported an official car for my use as Senate President and that customs duty was not paid on the vehicle. Since I knew the claim was false, the matter was referred to the Ethics Committee and I appeared before the committee to testify, in the full glare of the media.

“From my testimony, it was clear the Senator who made the allegation got his facts wrong and was only being mischievous.

“Also, on the day the committee submitted its report for debate on the floor, I stepped down and allowed my deputy to preside. The transparent manner in which the investigation and the debate on the report were handled assured everybody that there was no case. This is a precedent that the leadership of the 10th Senate should follow.”

“The due process should be followed in this case, such that where anybody is found to have committed any wrong, the wrong should be pointed out and corrected. Also, the right remedy should be made.”

South-South women protest Natasha’s alleged disrespect to Akpabio, demands apology

Concerned South South Women group, on Saturday, took to the streets of Yenagoa in protest of what they described as a disrespectful behavior by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, towards the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during a recent plenary session.

The protesting women holding placards with the inscriptions, “Natasha Disgracing Niger Delta Women”, “Natasha Focus on Solutions Not Insults”, “Senator Natasha The Content Creator” and others, condemned her alleged behavior, and demanded that she publicly apologize or face disciplinary action based on Senate rules.

Addressing journalist at the Oxbow lake pavilion, in Yenagoa, where the protest terminated, the leader of the women group, Hon. Ebiere Akpobesa, expressed disappointment over the senator’s action by ignoring the Senate’s seating arrangements and raising her voice even after being ruled out of order.

She also criticized her refusal to leave the chamber when asked, and described her actions as inappropriate for a lawmaker.

She said, “We, the members of this group, are not comfortable with the rude and unethical behavior exhibited by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against our revered Senate President. The rules are meant to be obeyed and she cannot consider herself above the law by flouting the laid-down procedures of the Senate.

“She ought to know that unless the Senate President recognizes her, she cannot speak. This is not a lawless country or a chaotic parliament where everyone speaks at will. Her decision to continue addressing the Senate after the gavel had been struck overruling her was highly uncivilized.”

Akpobesa who commended Senate President Akpabio for his leadership and commitment to women empowerment, insisted that Akpoti-Uduaghan should be sanctioned and suspended until she apologizes to Akpabio, the Senate, and the South-South region. She warned that failure to apologize would make her an enemy of South-South women.

She further called on female politicians to uphold respect and dignity in governance, saying African women are known for their decorum and should set good examples in public service.

“You cannot talk back to the Senate President as if he is your contemporary. The Senate President is the first among equals and wields enormous legal authority. Disobedience to the orders of the Senate President is an act of contempt and is punishable under the rules of the Senate.

“We will not allow this young woman to disrespect our pride- the number three citizen of Nigeria and the leader of the South-South and Niger Delta”, Akpobesa said.