Northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership, has given the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, 48 hours to reverse the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, yesterday, the Speaker of the Youth Assembly, Ambassador Abdul Danbature said they have “endured and tolerated Akpabio beyond limit, and now it is time to speak out”.
He said since the emergence of Akpabio as the President of the Senate, it has been ,”one drama to another” and as discerning northern Nigeria youths, we are gradually jumping to the conclusions that Akpabio has axe to grind with some sections of the country, especially the North.
“As Youth who constitute the bulk of the population of Northern Nigeria, we have resolved to lend our voices in condemnation of the mistreatment and maltreatment of Northern Nigeria Senators who have been humiliated under the leadership of Akpabio.
“We have realised our Senators from the North are afraid to call a spade by its name because of fear of witch-hunting and suspension from the Senate.
“As youths, we are using this medium to tell Sen Akpabio that nothing lasts forever, no position is permanent and no power is eternal. Therefore, we would like to advise him to treat his colleagues equally and fairly.
According to them, “Northern Nigeria deserves more than what it’s getting from Akpabio as Senate President”, adding that “without the overwhelming support of our senators from the North, Akpabio would not be sitting as President of the Senate today. He must stop the victimisation of senators from the North. He must stop his selective justice.
Danbature, said Akpabio should realise that power, position and influence are temporal.
“We are also using this medium to call on our amiable President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call Akpabio to order in the interest of justice, harmony, and peace. Going by what has happened under the leadership of Akpabio, we believe Akpabio is fighting the North directly or indirectly.
Their reasons for this belief are not farfetched and the suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti recently has reinforced their belief that Akpabio is fighting the North.
The group asked the following rhetorical questions:
“What has Senator Natasha done to warrant her suspension from legislative duties for 6 months?
“What has Senator Natasha done to warrant her change of seat?
“What has Senator Natasha done to warrant her removal as Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content?
“What has Northern women done for continue harassment?
“What has Northern Nigeria done against Senator Akpabio to stop motion moved by Senator Natasha on NLNG gas pipeline project to Northern Nigeria?
The northern youth feel Akpabio is fighting the entire Northern region and would “want to silence all the notable voices from the region who are critical of his high handedness and sectional politics”.
The demands of the Northern Youths are as follows:
“Let Akpabio quickly reverse the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the interest of justice; otherwise, posterity will remember him harshly.
“Let our Northern leaders call Akpabio to order and let the Southern leaders do the same in the interest of peace and unity. This is not just a Senate issue but a national disgrace.
“Akpabio has ridiculed and disgraced the parliament in Nigeria. We are now a laughing stock in the committee of nations.
“Akpabio must heed to our call to recall Senator Natasha within 48 hours otherwise, we will occupy National Assembly Complex, block Lokoja and Kaduna express road and all 19 Northern States and FCT.
“We are very much ready and prepared to engage in civil protest until our demands are met. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade into this matter because some sections of the North believe Akpabio could not have done this without his knowledge”.
