From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity and Justice, has picked hole in the sexual harassment claim by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Its Spokesperson, James Okoronkwo at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, questioned the sincerity in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim after she was removed as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
Okoronkwo advised the Kogi State senator to own up to her misconduct by disobeying the senate rules by refusing to accept her seat allocation.
He likened Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim to the biblical Pontius Wife and Joseph, stating that no amount of blackmail would deter the senate from carrying out its statutory function.
He said: “Like the biblical Pontius wife did to Joseph, Sen Natasha turned the well- intended administrative norm of rearranging sitting position in the Senate into an issue of rancor and vituperation when she against every persuasion refused to accept the sit allocated to her.
“In expression of unprovoked anger she threw cation and common sense to the winds and randomly violated Senate rules.
“Firstly, she refused to take the sit allocated to her, secondly, she broke the protocol and spoke when the presiding officer has not asked her to do so and thirdly she used foul language in addressing the Senate to the extent of abusing the presiding officer.
“We urge her to stop distracting the Nigerian Senate as our nation has more serious issues demanding legislative action.”
On the Senate President, he said “Akpabio is committed to enhancing the 35 percent affirmative action and all barriers inhibiting women participation in politics.”