By INIOBONG EKPONTA, Uyo
Traditional kinsmen of the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio’s Annang ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State have expressed dismay at attempt by the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan, to denigrate the office of the number three citizen, describing the allegation as cheap lies to score cheap political point.
The eight Paramount Ruler drawn from the eight local government areas in Annang land, who met under the aegis of Afe Nkuku Annang ,ANA, noted that rather for Natasha to disgrace their son in the failed plot, she ended up rubbishing herself, her constituents, the womenfolk and Nigeria at large.
Rising from the meeting held at the palace of the Chairman of the forum, Obong Cosmss Akpan, JP, who doubles as the Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim Local Government Area, the royal fathers noted that Natasha’s action has exposed her moral bankruptcy.
The communique signed by the Chairman, Obong Cosmas Akpan; the Secretary General, Akuku Johnson Obosi ,Oruk Anam, and others from Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ika, Obot Akara and Ikot Ekpene LGAs, noted that Senator Natasha’s allegation was a deliberately concocted ploy aimed at decimating President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Parts of the communique read: “Senator Natasha’s recent outburst of sexual harassment against our beloved son, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has rightly betrayed her moral attitude, exposed her moral bankruptcy, and made her vulnerable for cheap bargain.
“Keen spectators of what started with a change of seat before it metamorphosed into a case of shamelessly washing her dirty linen outside, have come out with uncompromising report that the whole scenario looks seemingly sponsored by the forces of opposition parties to kill Tinubu’s dream for 2027 ticket.
“Senator Akpabio, our son has over the years demonstrated pragmatic leadership and should not be distracted by a common agent of darkness stirring unnecessary controversy. It’s regrettable that the confrontations involving this lady and our beloved son with accusations and counter accusations making headlines have the capacity to derail our legislative mechanism and ridicule our identity as a nation”.
The traditional rulers noted that it was unfortunate that Sen. Natasha, despite her reckless attitude was drawing support from her Kinsmen, including Ebira people and some media organisations, describing such hasty indulgence as baseless.
“Akpabio, our son, is known to be morally upright, courageous, open- minded, emotionally intelligent and with inspiring leadership credentials”, the monarchs noted, adding that such virtues have put him in the right pedestal to effectively represents his people and Nigeria at large.
Although the traditional fathers said they would not take up any issue with her supporters in her ignoble cause, they argued that Natasha’s husband, “Chief Uduaghan, has stooped so low and has lost a sensible part of his moral content to have succumbed to a woman’s pressure to tell lies to the public”.
They recalled that “Natasha’s long history and experience in running down the fame and dignity of prominent Nigerians using her ‘personal resources’ as a bargaining medium, is nothing new to those that know her”, noting that her recent journey to the global inter- parliamentary body to present her case represented what they described as “the latest brand in Natasha’s marketing strategy to make herself an invisible export in disguise”.
They, therefore, warned Nigerians to be careful of desperate politicians on their evil mission to divide the country, assuring that their position would remain apolitical, but advisory in order that no one should ruin the polity with unnecessary political shenanigans.
