Natasha: Atiku Lashes Senate, Condemns Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension

By Akinwale Kasali 

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has lashed the Senate and Nigerian leaders for failing to create an enabling environment that enables women to thrive and contribute to the country’s development. 

He, also, condemned the Senate for the disciplinary actions taken against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for revealing her alleged ordeal in the hands of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

The Senator had alleged that Akpabio is mistreating her because she allegedly snubbed his inappropriate advances towards her. That earned her a six-month suspension for, among other things, talking back on the floor of the Senate to Akpabio, and refusing to go to the seat allocated to her, even after she had been asked to do that, before raising her hands to speak.

But reacting on Friday through his Media Adviser,     Paul Ibe, following the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kogi Central,

Atiku described the Senate’s decision as an attack on affirmative action.

“Has there been an investigation? No. So, Atiku’s position hasn’t changed. Whichever way you look at this, there is a concern. Any society that does not optimally use the assets available to it, particularly by giving women the opportunity to thrive, is failing,” he said.

 “About half of our population is women, and if we don’t deliberately create an environment conducive to promoting women’s interests—whether in politics, business, or any other human endeavour—we are underutilising our potential.

“We’re not providing half of our population the opportunities to thrive and add value to society. With International Women’s Day coming up on March 8, it raises serious concerns. The Senate’s action of suspending Natasha for six months without conducting an investigation is an attack on affirmative action.”

Also, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who spoke through his ex-media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also frowned on the development.

“The situation is quite disappointing,” he lamented.