Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, on Tuesday accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of running the National Assembly as “dictatorship” and treating her as though she were his “domestic staff.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the remarks while addressing journalists in Abuja after gaining entrance into her office which was earlier unsealed by the National Assembly after serving her controversial six months suspension slammed on her by the Senate leadership.
“It’s actually amazing how much we have had to face and survive in the past six months.
“And most of it happened to the full glare of Nigerians. From the unjust suspension to the recall. We survived the recall. We survived the blockage of roads and waterways into Kogi that we had to fly in using a helicopter. We survived the blackmail from the so-called woman from the crazy lady on Facebook. You know, it’s amazing what we had to survive.”
“I give God Almighty the glory and my deepest appreciation to the good people of Kogi Central, Kogi State, and Nigeria at large.
“My husband, my love, if you see this, I love you dearly. And should I pray all men support their wives as much as you have supported me. And my children, thank you for your sacrifices.”
The lawmaker insisted that her suspension was “illegal and unjust,” arguing that her return proved that institutions must sometimes be tested.
“In everything, it just shows that sometimes it’s good to put the institutions to test. We can’t cower down in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than us. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He’s not a governor of this place. And he treated me, he treated me as if I was his servant or I was a domestic staff in his house. It’s very unfortunate that at this time, after so many years of democracy, we would have a National Assembly being run by such dictatorship. It’s totally unacceptable.”
Despite her exclusion from plenary activities, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that she continued to work for her people.
“As for me, I’m glad to be here,” she said. “And even though we have been illegally suspended, no day have I hesitated in effectively carrying out my duties as a senator of Kogi Central to the very best of my capacity. I have never, not, no day went by without me looking out for opportunities, either in terms of bringing infrastructure or projects to my people.
Her lawyers warned of contempt proceedings and other remedies under the law, but the Clerk had insisted the matter was before the Court of Appeal.
With her office now unsealed and her fiery remarks against Akpabio, the resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to reignite fresh political battles within the Senate, where critics of Akpabio have long accused him of intolerance and high-handedness.
