The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resolve the ongoing sexual assault allegation amicably.
The umbrella body of Christians in the country made the appeal on Tuesday in Kaduna, calling on the Senate leadership to wade into the matter.
The group however rejected the call on Akpabio to resign from his position as being clamoured from some quarters over the scandal.
The magazine reports that the alleged sexual assault against Akpabio has generated more furore, on Tuesday, after the petition submitted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to prove her case against the Senate President was rejected by the Senate, who claimed she did not follow the rules with the submission.
Not a few Nigerians have expressed their anger over the lawmakers action, accusing them of trying to frustrate her efforts to prove her case, those not satisfied with what transpired at the Senate yesterday said an independent investigations should be set up to probe the issue.
CAN however called on respected leaders to find a way to settle the dispute amicably in the interest of the feuding parties, adding that the allegation though very sensitive, must be handled with care, noting that any attempt to take sides on the issue “will only escalate tensions.”
“There is a need for elders to step in. Akpabio and Natasha have people they respect and highly regard. Members of the National Assembly must take responsibility in handling this matter,” CAN said.
Adding that “Any group calling for Akpabio’s resignation should desist, as no one has been proven guilty in this matter. Taking sides will only escalate tensions. Allegations of sexual harassment must be treated with seriousness, but also with fairness and sobriety.”
Reacting to the allegation, Akpabio said yesterday during Senate Plenary that he did not asked Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for sexual favour, adding that he had never sexually assaulted any woman because his mother trained him well to respect women.
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