The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has called for thorough investigations into allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator representing Kogi Central.
Natasha had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment days after she had an altercation with the Senate President over sitting arrangements in the upper legislative chamber.
In a statement on Sunday the ACF expressed concern over the issue.
The statement signed by Tukur Muhammad-Baba, spokesperson of the forum, said the allegations portend negative implications for the “national and international public image” of the senate.
“Even Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband has been forced to publicly comment on the matter and all such public interventions have the potential to bring into disrepute a body empowered to make laws for Nigeria”, the statement reads.
“As things now stand, in the eyes of the general public the allegations in question portend definite negative implications for the national and international public image of the Red Chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
“While the imbroglio lasts, the interests of the people of Kogi Central are not being adequately represented in the 10th Senate.
“While perhaps far-fetched, ACF rues the development and hopes that it is not part of the thinly-veiled anti-Arewa agenda now pervading the Nigerian political process.”
The forum said it does appear only Senators from the North have been subjected to heavy sanctions, such as suspensions, in the 10th Senate.
“In the event, ACF wonders if the unfolding events constitute a pattern or are cruel coincidences at work!
“Putting it mildly, the public image of the leadership of the 10th Senate is now less than inspiring”, Muhammad-Baba said.
The forum called for “An independent, open, transparent and thorough investigation, devoid of fear, favour or interference of any kind, from any quarters be conducted.”
This, according to the ACF, “will be necessary to allow the Senate to return, as it should, to the serious and solemn duty of law making for Nigeria, at a period when citizens are being overwhelmed by dire existential living conditions on account of the impact public policies on lives and livelihoods”.
The forum also called on the Northern caucus in the 10th Senate to rally round Akpoti-Uduaghan “so that she gets a fair hearing and, ultimately, accorded treatment with all the deserved due respects that she is entitled to in the affairs of the Red Chamber”.
It further called on the leadership and members of the National Assembly “to always display exemplary behaviour, edifying comportment, display sensitivity, circumspection personal discipline and be above board in matters of ethics, decorum, moral rectitude and integrity, qualities that are sorely needed but which, very sadly, appear to be in deficit in the way the 10th Senate is being run.”
