Olu Samuel
A group, Kogi Women Assembly, has called for a quick resolution of the face-off between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, to prevent it from escalation beyond the shores of the country.
Grace Iye Adejoh, the leader of Kogi women Assembly, in a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, also called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to consider giving men who have been making efforts to broker peace a chance to resolve the matter.
According to her, “My stance has been clear that the six-month suspension imposed on Natasha is excessive and carries far-reaching consequences for the people of Kogi State.
With her suspension, their voices are effectively silenced in the Senate, Adejoh noted.
She queried the decision of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to approach the Un Inter-Parliamentary Union, describing the move as premature, more so when efforts are on from different quarters to resolve the matter.
She described Natasha as a widely loved and respected political figure.
“Natasha.
While we hoped for positive interventions through dialogue and mediation by elders and interest groups, I was taken aback by the senator’s decision to take the matter before the UN Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Natasha is widely loved and respected. Her intelligence, resilience, and compassionate nature have not only made her a leading figure in Kogi State but also someone admired even by those who may not always agree with her.
It is no surprise that she has received overwhelming support since this battle began. Many of us have vowed to stand by her side until justice is served and she is reinstated. However, taking the matter outside our national “family circle” comes as a surprise.
As a democracy still in its formative stages, Nigeria faces its share of growing pains, often reflected in governance. In this particular case, the odds favored Senator Natasha. With strong backing from women’s groups, civil rights organizations, and stakeholders from Kogi State, a positive resolution seemed likely through domestic pressure and negotiation.
At this point, the matter remains a “family dispute” that can still be resolved through dialogue and compromise.” Adejoh added.