BY UTHMAN BABA- NASEER MINNA.
The National President of The Nation-Women Forum (NWF) Hajiya Amina Inna Abubakar,has described the suspension of Senator Natasha Khadijat Akpoti Uduaghan as an infringement on her right arguing that the Senate should Without further delay put the purported suspension on hold.
Hajiya Amina Abubakar,also noted with concerned the Senate unfair treatment meted on Senator Natasha Uduaghan Akpoti representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly stating that is an attempt to cover the sexual harrasement allegations against Senator Godswill Akpabio under the carpet
In a press release signed by the National President of the (NFW) and made available to newsmen in Minna at the weekend, argued that the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is unfair.
According to Hajiya Amina Abubakar,Sen Akpabio's sex-manic attitude should be an albatross hanging on the neck of 105 male Senators in red chamber.
"How can a man of Akpabio's calibre, the number 3 man in Nigeria will be harassing women
"How can you suspend someone who was stampeded and cries out.
Imagined the Senate with just about 4 female and you are suspending one for a whole year, because in the Senate calendar, 180 days is a year" she asked
She warned that,Men should not be the monsters that will chase women out of politics
She recalled that this is the second time we have had a vibrant female Senator, the first was Senator Gbemisola Saraki from Kwara state.
"There is no doubt about it, Natasha is an outstanding voice in the 10th Senate and NWF is proud of her"
Leadership,she observed, should be dynamic to carry every one along. We expected Akpabio to play a fatherly role and not offer selective leadership.
The forum questions the grounds for the Senator suspension, what is her offense, when compared to other male Senators who have allegedly padded the budget and remain unpunished.
Hajia Amina reiterated that Senator Akpoti has the right to freedom of speech and should be allowed to speak out and not gagged.
"Her outburst was as a result of cumulative effect, her rights had been trampled up for long.
"This is not the first attack on her, the other time she was humiliated by Akpabio in the night-Klub saga.
Suspending the only Senator representing Ebira people, is like ostracizing the entire descent from their country, this is a calculated attempt to short change Kogi people.
"Every state is represented by three Senators and you are suspending one out of the 3 representing the good people of Kogi for six months, while Akwaibom your state is intact.
"Simply because she exposed the sex icon, better still it is an altercation between colleagues, recall that Akpabio was elected same way as Natasha, the only difference is Akpabio is the first amongst equals, it may interest us to know that Natasha is eminently qualified to be the Senate President as well.
The Nation Women Forum also criticizes the Senate's priorities, stating that at this critical period when the law makers are supposed to be making laws that will bring down the astronomical price of food stuff to make life worth living and stop Nigerians from suffocating, they are more focused on trivialities like seating arrangements instead of addressing the issues of poverty, hunger and insecurity bedeviling the country at the moment.
Hajiya Amina Abubakar pointed out that Senator Akpabio should in his own interest step aside to allow a thorough investigation into the overwhelming allegations of sexual harassment against him "and to allow the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril to preside pending the completion of the Investigation"
"We call for Senate President Godswill Akpabio to relinquish his seat and allow his deputy, Sen. Barau to preside over this issue and the subsequent proceedings, pending the final determination of the case, you cannot be a judge in your own case.
"The Senate President is now a suspect and untill he is cleared of his serious allegation of sexual assault.
The integrity of the Senate is at stake and the whole World is watching.
"This is not the first report against Akpabio, the first attempt was made on the former Managing Director of NDDC Joy Nunieh and the matter was swept under the carpet, plus the many more unreported such cases.
"We reject your judgement, it is unfair, imagining the haste nature of the suspension, one can see that the men dominated Senate want to give their own soft-landing". she asserted
The women activist described as shameful the manner at which the two other Senators from Kogi State, Senator Jibrin Echocho from Kogi East and Senator Abdul- Kareem from Kogi West allow their sister to be subjected to these Unwholesome ridicul without them raising their voice.
"I am ashamed of the Senator representing me, Isah Jibrin Echocho and Sen Karim from Kogi West for jettison their sister and colleague when it matters most.
"I know why they backed out, because they are not men enough and your attempt to divide Kogi state along tribal lines will not succeed. she added.
The Nation Women Forum, according to Hajiya Amina has passed a Vote of Confidence on Senator Akpoti's performance so far.
"We are fully prepared to mobilize millions of women support for her to succeed. We demand justice and fairness for Sen. Akpoti and the people of Nigeria." she concluded.
