A political group under the auspices of Kogi Central Political Frontiers has commence the process of recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly, describing her alleged unruly behavior and gross misconduct in the senate as unacceptable to the people of central senatorial district of Kogi state.
At a press conference held in Lokoja on Thursday, the spokesman of the group Comrade Jafar Aliu Kamaludeen said that , the Kogi central concerned stakeholders have been watching with keen interest the unfolding events concerning the senator representing Kogi central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the president of the senate, distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.
According to him the recent review of events that led to the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged gross misconduct and unruly behavior has not only cast a shadow on the people of the district, but also spurred us to question if truly the interest of the people of Kogi central is duly protected in this matter.
Kamaludeen who described the national assembly as an esteemed arm of government that gives voice to the entire Nigerians through meaningful representation of constituents, noted that the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months in line with the recommendation of the committee on ethics, privileges and public petition for flouting the rules was in order for the preservation of institutional integrity.
He stated that , despite the window given to her to reverse the decision of the committee through the second prayer that for the senate to consider lifting or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan openly refused to tender apology in the interest of her constituents.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has clearly failed to prioritize or consider the collective interest of the people of Kogi central whose voices by this singular mis-step will be silenced for the next six legislative months which is equivalent to twelve calendar months.
“Her appearance at the United Nations interparliamentary Union meeting to escalate the matter with a twisted narrative of sexual harassment as reason for her suspension as well as the filing of a contempt suit against the senate president and others over her suspension is indicative of a personal resolve by the senator to abandon the people of Kogi central to their own fate.
“Senator Natasha has shown she’s oblivious of her strength as an equal to other members of the red chamber, she has failed to act as a distinguished member of the red chamber and has dismissed the mandate given to her by her people to protect our overall interest.
“A simple apology would have sufficed while she pursues fair hearing on the sexual harassment petition before the ethics and privileges committee or better still go to court to file a suit on sexual harassment with the conviction that she has concrete evidence to get justice on the matter.
“For the record, after her suspension, there has been no formal communication between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the people of Kogi central, not even a town hall meeting as was the routine when she was seeking the support and votes of constituents.
“Since she has refused to apologize for disobeying the rules of the senate and bearing in mind the consequence that we would be without representation in the red chamber for six legislative months, we the people of Kogi central senatorial district hereby resolve to commence the process of recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria
“This will allow the people of Kogi central to elect a responsible, law-abiding team player to represent us at the senate” the group stated.