Natasha: NBA, Atiku, Obi, Others Knock Senate

• Her Suspension Amounts To Intimidation – NBA
• Suspending Natasha Without Investigation Ks An Attack On Affirmative Action – Atiku
• Shame On Opposition Members For Not Speaking Up – PDP

The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition parties have berated the Senate for suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and not giving her ample time to present her sexual harassment complaint against Akpabio.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the Senate on Thursday over her clash with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the seating arrangement.

Before her suspension, the Senator has also alleged Akpabio of sexually harassing her.

The Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, while reacting to the suspension, queried the manner in which the matter was handled.

She stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which is a build-up on the dispute between her and Akpabio, might not have been the right decision to take in the interest of justice.

Stressing that in the interest of justice, she deserved fair hearing before such decision should have been taken.

She said, “To start with I will say on the suspension, we are all lawyers and would like to see fairness across board. We know the allegation is very big, and he who asserts must prove so we will want her to prove the allegations, and we expect fairness in it.

“I see her suspension as a kind of intimidation; you cannot be a judge in your own court. If something affects you, slide by the side and let justice take its course because we need to see fairness.

‘’We as citizens would like to see a fair level ground for everybody. She is alleging and proving, and peradventure, she is unable to prove what she has alleged; she knows what would come to her. We are in a democracy, suspension is not the answer.’’

Speaking further, Muhammad noted, “The question here is: Did the committee call her before suspending her? Did she refuse to come? Did she send a representation? If she was not called, then what was the yardstick used in suspending her, if she was called and she refused to go, that would be very wrong of her because she was called to prove her innocence, and her refusing to honor the invite would be wrong.

“Those who suspended her should know there are people out there watching, and we all want justice because, as far as we are concerned, the Senate is a sacred place, and what is happening right now should not be happening.’’

In his own reaction, Professor Itsey Sagay (SAN) stated that since the matter was already before a court of law, it should have been left for the courts to decide.

“The matter is in court, as I know, and I’m surprised they didn’t leave it at that stage. I feel very sympathetic towards her because in an assembly full of men, there’s a tendency towards self-defense, but the men, rather than looking at the matter objectively, didn’t.

“I think very seriously she is at a disadvantage in that type of circle. It can never be right because everybody is saying I could be the one. My advice to her is to put the matter behind her and carry on with her life totally ignoring all those things and do her job for her people of Kogi knowing that they elected her,’’ he counselled.

Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the Senate’s decision against Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it an attack on affirmative action.

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Atiku who spoke through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, told The PUNCH that Nigerian leaders are not creating an environment that enables women to thrive and contribute to the country’s development.

He stated, “Has there been an investigation? No. So, Atiku’s position hasn’t changed. Whichever way you look at this, there is a concern. Any society that does not optimally use the assets available to it, particularly by giving women the opportunity to thrive, is failing.

“About half of our population is women, and if we don’t deliberately create an environment conducive to promoting women’s interests—whether in politics, business, or any other human endeavour—we are underutilizing our potential.

“We’re not providing half of our population the opportunities to thrive and add value to society. With International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, it raises serious concerns. The Senate’s action of suspending Natasha for six months without conducting an investigation is an attack on affirmative action.”

Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi, who spoke through his former media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also frowned on the development.

“The situation is quite disappointing,” he lamented.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticised Akpabio for not stepping down to allow an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Osadolor described the six-month suspension imposed on Uduaghan-Akpoti as shameful.

The PDP youth leader equally dragged opposition lawmakers for failing to speak out and make their voices heard when it mattered most.

He stated, “The Senate President should have excused himself; he wasn’t truly a man of integrity. He should have stepped aside and allowed the investigation to proceed. I was deeply moved by this, and I’m sure every person of goodwill would be as well.

“Natasha could have been our sister, our wife, our daughter, or our mother. To see them all gang up and use state power and bureaucracy to silence her voice is shameful. For me, it was even more shameful for the opposition members on the floor of the Senate. They failed to speak up when it mattered.

“They were trying to stay in Akpabio’s good books. Looking at the whole situation, no one could stand up to be counted because they didn’t want to be kicked out or labelled as rebels. It’s a shame. But I believe Natasha has made her points. Though the majority will have their way, the minority will also have their day.”

The leadership of the Labour Party called on the Nigerian Senate to reconsider the suspension of the legislator.

In a telephone interview, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, described the verdict as a disheartening and shoddy arrangement.

He said, “The suspension is draconian. The woman, I am told, was not given the opportunity to properly defend herself. That is where I and most Nigerians have issues. Don’t forget she is representing an entire senatorial zone with eight or more local governments.

“Asking her not to be in the senate for six months is undemocratic. The Labour Party stands for gender inclusivity. If the woman said that injustice was done, then they should critically look at the woman’s complaint. But unilaterally suspending her without hearing her out is injustice.

“The Labour Party does not support that. So, I think they should bring her back and revisit her case. If she says that there was an allegation of sexual harassment, at least you should look into it, and whoever is involved should clear himself of that.

“But we discovered the person is even the judge in a matter that concerns him. Where is that done? So, I think that matter should be revisited.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, expressed shock at the outcome.

According to him, the complaint brought to the floor of the Senate should have been properly investigated before an action was taken.

“Well, should someone be suspended for raising an issue fundamental to her well-being and others? That’s one question. There’s another argument about her sitting position. When Akpabio argued about his sitting position in the past, was he also suspended?

“If a person is saying that certain thing happened to me, and you strike it out on a technicality, saying that she signed it herself or something. You haven’t even gone into the details or the merits of the matter to know whether she lied or she was right.

“Instead, you punished the person by suspending her for six months and withholding her allowances, salary, and other benefits. It doesn’t seem straightforward to me. That’s all I’ll say,” he stated.