Niger Delta Youths coalition fault Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan over seat arrangement disputes

..seeks sanctions to serve as deterrent measure against violation of senate rules

A coalition of Youth groups from the Niger Delta region has faulted the last week outburst by the Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the senate over allocation of seats, saying poor display by a distinguish Senator should be sanctioned.

According to the Youth groups, despite various shade of opinion on the matter and the lack of show of remorse from Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, the Senate leadership should immediately review her conduct and apportion appropriate disciplinary measure to serve as a deterrent to others in the National Assembly plotting to bring the Senate or House of Representatives to disrepute.

Comrade Julius Appah, the convener of Youths for Transparency and Good Governance (YTGG), argued that the outburst by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan and the allegations of sexual harassment as a means of covering the issue of her alleged misconduct is enough reason for the Senate Leadership to suspend her and sanction her for turning the floor of the senate to a comedy session.

The YTGG also back the position of various groups including the Niger Delta Women Coalition, who rose in defence of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and urged Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan to tender an unreserved apology for her show of misconduct and disrespect to office of the Senate President and her constituency.

In the Statement, Comrade Julius Appah, stated that “ the entire Youths of the Niger Delta region have studied the visual and read the positions on the incident that occurred on the floor of the Senate between our leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan. Though we considered it a clear show of disrespect to the office of the Senate President, the action of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduanghan should not go unpunished.:

“ If it is allowed to go unpunished, others in the Senate may be encourage to disregard rulers of the Senate and flagrantly abuse the office of the Senate President. It is an act of sacrilege and enough is enough.”

“Senator Akpoti Uduaghan should consider herself lucky that she is not from the Niger Delta region nor residing with her husband in the Delta State. She would have been taught a big lesson in governance and respect. We however call on her constituents to call her to order.”

“For the second time in less than a year, we have watched with shock as Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the Senate, has disrespected the person of the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the office he occupies.”

“This is the second time she has brought the Senate to disrepute. The first time was last year when she spoke without being recognised by the presiding officer. When the Senate President who was presiding told her to follow the rules because they were ‘not in the club’, she blew a fuse.”

“We are moved to react this time for some reasons: One, the show of disrespect that Senator Akpoti Uduaghan exhibited at the plenary shows that being disrespectful and behaving without decorum is in her character. It means that the first act of last year was not a one off behaviour.”

” Two, we expect that Senator Akpoti who is a wife of the Niger Delta should exhibit certain virtues and values like respect for elders, endemic to the region. Three, we expect that anyone who has risen to the office of a senator of the federal republic should observe a minimum standard of decency.”

” Four, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, is a man of honour and a distinguished statesman who deserves the respect of any right-thinking Nigerian, irrespective of gender, age and political affiliation.”

“We have it on good authority that her latest misbehavior is a reaction to her removal as Chairman of the Local Content Committee. This is most unfortunate as senate committee chairmanships are not birth rights but a call to serve the country.”

“We want to put it on record that we find Senator Akpoti Uduaghan’s behavior abhorrent. She is not the only female member of the Senate. Other distinguished women are there but they have conducted themselves with decorum. Rather than make herself out into a nuisance, she should follow good example.”

“Senator Akpoti Uduaghan is lucky that she is not representing a senatorial district in the Niger Delta. Were that the case, we, the women of this region, would have initiated a recall to remove her from the Senate so that she would no longer be a reproach to us. We call on her constituents to call her to order.”

“We believe it is necessary to issue this warning that the women of the Niger Delta region will no longer tolerate any behaviour on her part, which brings the women of the region into disrepute. The region has a history of producing great women in politics. She should learn from them.”

“Senator Akpoti Udughan should purge herself of this reproach by apologising unreservedly to Senator Akpabio. Apart from being the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio is also the political leader of the Niger Delta. We would not tolerate nor permit any person, no matter how misguided, to disrespect his person or his office. Enough of this sacrilege.”

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