By Emmanuel Umohinyang
One of the issues that has dominated public discourse in recent times is the unfortunate altercation between Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio and Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan.
Unfortunately, this has further dwarfed the real issues critical to national development at a very major period in our national history.
Many are still at a loss why an issue revolving around a change of seat suddenly degenerated to an unimaginable level in the senate which has had image issue over the years.
Recall that the issue became so fierce that Akpoti – Uduaghan appeared like somebody who was ready to bring down the roof if not allowed to have her way.
Curiously, she was wrong procedurally, as any senators, according to senate rules can be moved by the senate president at any time without notice.
In this instance, the Kogi Central Senator had to be moved due to defections in the Senate and she was not the only one that has been affected in recent times.
However, on this occasion, the female senator stuck to her guns, insisting that she would not leave her seat, even as she raised a point of order on the matter. However, the senate president ruled her out of order, as she was not speaking from the seat accorded her according to senate rules.
Of course, Akpabio was right as the standing rules say you can only be recognised, if you are on your accredited seat.
This no doubt is in sync with the saying that “he who comes to equity, must come with clean hands”, which was not the scenario in this case.
We were later to see further drama as Senator Akpoti–Uduaghan raised a petition accusing Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment after she eventually moved to the appropriate seat,
However, followers of the development see this as a failed strategy to nail the senate president for perceived injustice and insisting that due process be followed.
Recall that the Kogi Central Senator had earlier been stripped of the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Local Content which was considered juicy and moved to a less fancied committee on NGOs.
The petition regarding sexual harassment was therefore seen as an afterthought and a move to deal a decisive blow to Akpabio’s audacity.
Unfortunately, the Senate threw out the petition for technical reasons as it was signed by the lawmaker instead of another party.
Furthermore, the Senate Committee on Ethics recommended a six-month suspension on the female senator and the recommendation was upheld by the red chamber.
Nigerians were later to see another round of drama when one Zuberu Yakubu representing the suspended senator appeared before the senate committee on ethics, Yakubu who came along with his legal counsel, Dr Adeola Akiyode and former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, initially refused to speak unless Senator Akopoti–Uduaghan, his principal witness, was allowed entry into the National Assembly.
Close observers knew that this was a script meant to distract the committee as the petitioner and his co–travellers knew that the committee lacked the powers to overrule a senate decision suspending the Kogi senator.
Yakubu was instructed to mute his microphone, prompting Ezekwesili to intervene, just as Nwaebonyi, a witness for Akpabio interjected, leading to a sharp confrontation with the former minister.
“Shot up, compose yourself and stop making noise” Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi, just as the temperament-challenged senator fired back” you are a fool, what do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You are an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.” Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan”, which escalated the confrontation and briefly halting proceedings of the legislative panel.
The shameful and inelegant behaviour of both the former Minister and the Senator is despicable, disgusting and a disdain for civilisation. That a former Minister with a leadership institution to groom future leaders in our country to resort to uncivilised use of word in a magisterial premises like the senate hearing room is depressing, sad and maybe a pointer to what kind of leadership the country may be expecting from her institute. One would have expected a person of her standing to be more decorous and be worried about her public perception and image before the public. As for Senator Nwaebonyi, there may be need for him to see a therapist to enable him in managing his unnecessary and emotional outburst on mundane issues. He must at all times remind himself that even though this current Senate and the ones before her are challenged with credibility issue, the institution must be preserve with men and women of noble temperament and character.
While our democracy is saturated with leaders of low reputation and basement values, Nigerians must raise the bar as we approach another cycle of election and vote out of office the dreg of the society and bring in the best amongst us irrespective of where we can find such a leader as no nation gets developed with self pity and lamentations.
What ordinarily could have been sorted out without rancor was escalated because Senator Akpoti–Uduaghan failed to submit herself to senate procedures. These rules were not put together by Akpabio or the current senate and the likes of Senator Ireti Kingibe, Orji Uzor Kalu and many others have been affected.
A closer look at the entire scenario smacks of vendetta and a plot to pull Akpabio down from his high horse using sexual harassment as a bait.
As for Godswill Akpabio, this must serve as a lesson in humanity and careful selection of friends. With Natasha and her husband as his friends, he doesn’t need any more enemies and must also draw caution that there may be more Natasha within but are only waiting for their seat to be changed for their manifestation. The famous saying that a word is enough for the wise is my tokenism to the nation number three citizen.
Worse still, instead of listening to wise counsel or exploring internal mechanisms to resolve the issue, the Kogi senator used all means to promote hate against Akpabio.
It all started with her interview on Arise Television, where she made series of unsubstantiated allegations against the senate president.
Not only that, she has visited many international media networks, including the BBC, to externalise an issue which is simply local.
She even had the temerity to attend International parliamentary union (IPU), where she spewed lots of lies against the Akpabio – led senate and even cast aspersions on Nigeria in a desperate bid to attract sympathy and global attention and this in my opinion is a mockery to democracy and to the cherish values of proper upbringing and this should serve as a lesson to parents.
However, the IPU in its wisdom told the suspended senator that in the spirit of fair hearing, it would be hearing from the other side, even as a member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of its committee on women affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, who was at the event dismissed the senator’s allegations as a tissue of lies.
No doubt Senator Akpoti–Uduaghan’s campaign might have succeeded in hoodwinking some, especially the politically naïve, but not the senate whose members have given an unprecedented support to Akpabio thus far.
At a personal level, this writer has known senator Godswill Obot Akpabio for decades and can attest to his strength of character.
Some of his strong virtues which in a way have been used against him are his accommodating spirit, generosity without restrain and his sense of humor.
As a close ally, this writer can declare unequivocally that the senate president just like every other human being has his weaknesses, but I make bold to say that sexual harassment is not one of them. It is therefore gratifying that he has approached the issue with philosophical calmness, even as he has chosen to follow the legal route, unlike some other politicians, to protect his reputation and legacy of service to humanity.