By Abubakar Yunusa
A group of concerned stakeholders from Kogi Central has urged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to offer an unreserved apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on behalf of the Ebira people.
The appeal was made in a statement released on Wednesday by AbdulRaheem Adeku, the convener of the Kogi Central Concerned Stakeholders.
He warned that failure to comply could lead to a move to initiate the senator’s recall from the Senate.
“As a people, we are known for showing gratitude, loyalty, and fidelity to friendship. We therefore condemn the actions, utterances, and smear campaign of our daughter against the distinguished Senate President, Godswill Akpabio,” Adeku stated.
He further stressed that such conduct was not representative of Ebira culture and warned that any continued “public abuse of privilege” in the Senate could force the group to commence a recall process.
The stakeholders expressed their full support for the Senate President and urged the upper legislative chamber to take disciplinary action against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“We call on the Senate to proceed with the laid-down disciplinary measures and take the necessary and appropriate action to serve as a deterrent to other serving senators,” the statement read.
They also expressed dismay over what they described as a heated exchange between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, which has become a national concern.
According to the stakeholders, the National Assembly operates by standing rules that must be obeyed. They lamented that a matter concerning simple compliance had escalated into what they called a “vitriolic attack” on the personality of the Senate President.
They also recalled the “immense support” Akpabio had extended to Akpoti-Uduaghan even before she joined the Senate, citing his longstanding relationship with her husband.
“We expect Senator Natasha to recognise her strength as an equal to other members of the Red Chamber, act as a distinguished member, concentrate on the mandate given to her by her people, and desist from distractions that yield no common good,” the statement concluded.
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