An advocacy movement, Ojo Women Action for Political Actualisation has canvassed support for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, condemning the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s action.
The group also urged First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu to intervene in the matter.
This followed the recent disagreement between Akpabio and the female Kogi lawmaker last week over the relocation of her seat.
While, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, berated Natasha, over her outburst over the seating reassignment in the Senate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the allegations of “sexual harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment” levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In response, the group campaigned at the constituency office of the Lagos-West Senatorial District, Iba, Lagos.
In a conversation with The New Daily Prime, the convener, Oluyomi Coker, said Akpabio should be reminded that he is a son of a woman, a brother to a woman, a husband to a woman, and possibly a father to a woman, and should therefore be sensitive and just while dealing with female gender.
“Sometime last year, another female senator (Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe) was publicly assaulted by Minister of F.C.T. (Honourable Wike) It is high time all such harassments and ambiguities be laid to rest. All such activities are untoward, obnoxious, anomalous, segregatory, preposterous, unacceptable, unconstitutional and utterly condemnable,” he explained.
Coker called on the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to rise up and speak against all these anti-female excesses.
He said, “Senator Godswill Akpabio stop forthwith any further plan to persecute Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in particular and of course, all women in general. Our male-politicians should respect, treat justly and allow our women amongst them to breathe. No woman should be a victim of any political vendetta or the like.
“All our female Speakers (Houses of Assembly, and anywhere else.) should be left to function without acrimony against their gender. For instance, we urge concerned political leaders to give peace a chance and allow the Lagos State Assembly Speaker, Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda carry out her functions without undemocratic and unconstitutional interference or embarrassment from any quarters.
“The 35% female affirmation function be upheld across board in the upcoming election seasons. Women are not to be seen as tools but as personnel in the project of nation building. We call on all women to rise and take their rightful positions at all levels as we join hands with our male counterparts toward having a virile community and nation. Peace upon our fatherland.”
By Adeniyi Yusuf
