As expected by teeming Nigerians, the Senate finally called the bluff of the combative Senator Natasha Akpoti who may have felt emboldened by the support she may have received from some questionable quarters to defy or even ride roughshod over the time-honoured rules and procedures of the hallowed Red Chamber.
By suspending the embattled Senator Natasha, the Senate once again affirmed the sacrosanct principle that no one is above the law, no matter how influential or highly placed he or she may be.
Her last-ditch attempt to play the gender card by alleging sexual harassment and official victimisation collapsed like a pack of cards as a majority of the Senators and Nigerians as a whole saw through her unconvincing and patently self-serving allegations meant to distract from her raucous and disrespectful attitude towards the leadership and membership of the Senate.
Raising her voice several decibels higher than necessary during her testimony before the full Senate, blatantly refusing to appear before the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee several days earlier while allegedly arranging rent-a-crowd demonstrations which generated into free-for-all scuffles in front of the National Assembly were acts and omissions that alienated those who wished to appeal for clemency on her part.
Thus, the Senate had no other choice but to call Senator Natasha Akpoti to order with a 6 months suspension that was meant to restore discipline and respect for Senate rules and procedures as well as serving as a deterrent to like-minded persons in the future.
The public feedback following the Senate decision was overwhelmingly positive as the Senate leadership and membership received pats on the back for refusing to succumb to the orchestrated campaign of blackmail and calumny launched against the Senate President, Dr Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate with a view to putting them at odds with segments of civil society as a whole.
However, the Senate is made of sterner stuff and the suspension order shows that the legislative branch still has the vigour, tenacity, resilience and credibility to administer it’s affairs in accordance with the tenets of transparency, accountability, due process and the rule of law.
Now, that the Senator Natasha brouhaha is mercifully over, the Senate and the National Assembly will shift it’s focus back to where it rightly belongs; the constant and consistent delivery of democratic dividends to the Nigerian people, no more, no less. To God be the Glory.
HON PATIENCE FUKUMA, A POLITICAL/GENDER RIGHTS ACTIVIST WROTE IN FROM JOS, PLATEAU STATE.
