NAGET leaders told reporters Friday why Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan should say sorry to the Nigerian Senate and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The group thinks her apology would benefit her voters and the general public. Akpabio suspended Natasha for six months because she claimed he sexually harassed her. The situation became more complicated when Natasha took her complaint to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Natasha didn't stop there—she filed a legal case against Akpabio and others regarding her unpaid six-month ban from Senate activities. Senate officials pushed back, saying Natasha gave false information to the IPU. Elijah Tule, who leads NAGET, defended Akpabio by stating that her suspension helps protect the dignity of Nigeria's upper legislative house. He claimed the time away would let her learn Senate rules better.
Tule asked Natasha to apologize instead of fighting back. He wants her to publicly retract her comments about Akpabio and make a full apology to him and the entire Senate. Tule believes this approach best serves her interests and those of her constituents. He criticized her international complaints as harmful to Nigeria, threatening to push for a longer suspension if she continued these actions.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace joined the conversation Thursday, rejecting Natasha's claims against Akpabio. Their spokesman, James Okoronkwo, questioned her motives, pointing out that her allegations came after she lost her position as chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content. However, many Nigerians and several organizations have backed Natasha through this conflict. Former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo even demanded Akpabio temporarily leave his leadership role during a fair investigation of her harassment claims.
Natasha didn't stop there—she filed a legal case against Akpabio and others regarding her unpaid six-month ban from Senate activities. Senate officials pushed back, saying Natasha gave false information to the IPU. Elijah Tule, who leads NAGET, defended Akpabio by stating that her suspension helps protect the dignity of Nigeria's upper legislative house. He claimed the time away would let her learn Senate rules better.
Tule asked Natasha to apologize instead of fighting back. He wants her to publicly retract her comments about Akpabio and make a full apology to him and the entire Senate. Tule believes this approach best serves her interests and those of her constituents. He criticized her international complaints as harmful to Nigeria, threatening to push for a longer suspension if she continued these actions.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace joined the conversation Thursday, rejecting Natasha's claims against Akpabio. Their spokesman, James Okoronkwo, questioned her motives, pointing out that her allegations came after she lost her position as chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content. However, many Nigerians and several organizations have backed Natasha through this conflict. Former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo even demanded Akpabio temporarily leave his leadership role during a fair investigation of her harassment claims.
