BY Oby Ezekwesili
First, Congratulations to truly Distinguished Senator @NatashaAkpoti on returning to the Red Chamber of the Nigerian Senate to resume her duties to her Kogi Central Constituency who were unconstitutionally long-deprived of representation.
You have become a symbol of the fortitude and resilience necessary to fight injustice perpetrated against citizens by those who abuse public power. Thank YOU!
Now to the Senate and Senators, now that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been rightfully allowed to return to the Senate after months of an unfair and punitive suspension, it is time for your leadership and members to do the right thing- end all forms of harassment or targeting against her.
Senator Natasha’s suspension is seen by all reasonable Nigerians as an act of injustice- one that went far beyond the bounds of fair discipline. It sent a wrong message that the Senate could silence or intimidate a woman who speaks boldly and stands for what she believes in. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement therefore provides the Senate a chance to correct that mistake and show the public that it can uphold fairness and respect for every elected member.
1.Stop all hostilities and silent punishments. There must be no more attempts to sideline, frustrate, or humiliate her for simply doing her job.
2.Restore her full rights and privileges as a Senator. So, her office, her staff, her committee roles, and her right to speak freely in the chamber must be available for her to fully function .
3.Set a better example. The Senate must prove it can handle all matters involving individual members with maturity and not to unjustly weaponize public power to unjustly punish the aggrieved.
4.Show respect for the people’s mandate. Senator Natasha represents the people of Kogi Central. To target her any further is to disrespect the will of her voters.
As I have maintained from the start of this saga, this is not only about Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It is about what kind of democracy Nigeria wants to build- one where no one is punished for standing up for the truth, and where women can lead without fear of bias or bullying.
The Senate must remember that power is best shown not through intimidation but through transparent actions, fairness, restraint and accountability.
The Senate has a chance to turn this page the right way- by treating Senator Natasha with the same dignity and respect given to every other member.
How the Senate handles the substantive matter of her allegation against the Senate President going forward from now, is the crux of what citizens will judge the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by to see whether our highest lawmaking body leads by example.
There is a new vista for many of her colleagues to seize the second chance and finally stand to be counted in insisting that “the injustice shall not be sustained”.
Nigerians are watching, and history will remember whether the Senate chose vindictiveness or justice.
