Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has sent a message of solidarity to embattled Senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as she faces a backlash following allegations of sexual harassment she leveled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Ezekwesili posted:
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan@NatashaAkpoti, You. Will. Never. Walk. Alone.”
In another post, the former Minister addressed an open letter to the Nigerian Senate making two key demands from the lawmakers.
In the letter, Ezekwesili demanded that the petition filed by Natasha should be thoroughly investigated and openly discussed.
She also called for an independent investigator to be in charge while elevating the status of the proceedings into a public hearing for full transparency and disclosure.
In the post captioned “Letter to the Nigerian Senate,” Ezekwesili said:
“The Petition of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Must Be Independently Investigated and Openly Discussed in a Public Hearing that the Accused Does Not Preside.
Two Demands:
1. Swiftly Appoint an Independent Investigator on the Petition of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Cc: @icpcnigeria
2. Elevate the status of the proceedings on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Ethics and Privileges Committee into a Public Hearing for full transparency and disclosure.
“Our National Assembly @nassnigeria which comprises the @NGRSenate and @HouseNGR belongs to the Nigerian People and not to politicians of any stripe and status.
“This is why the National Assembly is called a Public Institution.
“No individual nor collection of individuals and their groups can capture a Public Institution and use to their personal benefit or advantage.
“Whenever a situation as the one involving Senators @NatashaAkpoti and @Senator_Akpabio occurs, the Lawmakers must understand the Nigerian public want transparency and full disclosure.
‘Dismissing a serious accusation against the Senate President just like the Senators irresponsibly did yesterday is a Democratic Aberration. It cannot stand. Never.
“What happened yesterday in the Senate Chamber where a Senate President presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our Democracy.
“It is in our Public Interest that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition be urgently given the seriousness it deserves to defend the institutional integrity of our Senate.
“Act correctly now, @NGRSenate!’
Source: Ripples