A group, the Concerned Women of Northern Nigeria has reiterated its support to senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti after an altercation during Senate plenary with the president of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The group expressed shocked and total disbeliefed of the Senate President’s continuous and unrelenting harassment at the slightest opportunity of their only female Senator and one of the most effective Senators of the 10th Senate of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the convener of the group, Amb. Fati E. Ibrahim and the Co-Convener, Hajiya Amina stated that, Ladan Baki MFR advised the Senate President to desist from further intimidating and distracting their very distinguished representative from carrying out her legitimate duties.
The group stated that they will mobilize Nigerian women to the national Assembly, keep vigil there and demand that Senator Akpabio be remove as the Senate President so that legislative sanity and finesse will return to the Senate Chambers if he continue to disturb Senator.
The statement states in parts: “You have on several occasions in the very hallowed chamber of the Senate while sitting on the high seat of the Senate President exhibited unprovoked and un-legislative hostility towards our very Distinguished Daughter, Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti of Kogi central senatorial district.
“We are at a loss as to why this recurrent poor and shabby treatment of our only female Senator from the North. Is it that you would wish that there was no female Senator from northern Nigeria in the Senate or is it that the presence o female Legislators in the Senate Chambers irritates you so much that you cannot tolerate the presence of some of them?
“Just to remind you that she was democratically elected by her people with a very popular vote and we will not sit and watch you deny the North of quality representation for whatever reasons best known to you.
Accordingto the group, “You were both elected by your respective districts and you were only elected by your colleagues to preside and not to bully any Senator.
“Since the advent of the fourth Republic, you are the only Senate President that has descended to this very low level in the pursuit of some personal vendetta against another Senator.
“Past Senate Presidents have conducted themselves with the highest decorum and dignity that this office demands.”
