By Mariam Sanni
Nigerian Ambassador for Gender Tranquility, NAGET, has demanded that the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, be suspended from the National Assembly until she retracts her allegations and tender an apology to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
President of NAGET, Elijah Tule made this call during a press conference in Abuja.
It would be recalled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged sexual harassment against the Senate president while speaking on a television programme.
He emphasised that the Senate president has never been in the news for harassing any woman in the past, noting that this makes it very difficult to successfully lie against him.
According to him, Nigerians have seen the unfortunate outburst by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over a simple matter of ‘seat allocation’ occasioned by the defection of some senators in the red chamber.
“Having grossly violated the rules of the Senate and desecrated the seat of the Senate president, we demand that she be suspended from the National Assembly until she retracts her allegations and tenders an unreserved apology to Akpabio.
“It is for this reason that Nigerian Ambassadors for Gender Tranquility has decided to stand with Senator Akpabio and say to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan that “You can do better than this,” he noted.
The group demanded that she withdraws her spurious allegations against the person of the Senate president, or face the wrath of well meaning Nigerians.
“Nigerians already know that it is almost certain to hear allegations of sexual harassment from women whenever they disagree with men. We want this gender intimidation to end now, so that sanity can take return.
“Nigerians have seen the unfortunate outburst by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over a simple matter of ‘seat allocation’ occasioned by the defection of some senators in the red chamber.
“NAGET intends to mobilise Nigerians to always stand by the truth, while striving to step forward and explore new frontiers with utmost love and respect for each other.
“We reiterate that, as the offspring of very confident patriots, who have offered the ultimate sacrifice several times and also offered proven and undeniable service to our country, we shall stand by the truth and for the truth, at all times,” he stated.
