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| Image: Senator Natasha Akpoti |
By Muhammad Salisu
Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has said alleged that, the current Senate is being led like a secret cult, where members are afraid to express dissenting opinions for fear of retribution.
Natasha in her special interview with the BBC on Tuesday, alleged that the Senate has become a place where members are silenced and intimidated.
The senator, who was recently suspended from the Senate for "gross misconduct," claimed that she is being victimized for speaking out against the Senate leadership.
"I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me," she said.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. recounting an incident where Akpabio allegedly held her hand and made suggestive comments during a visit to his country home in 2023.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio's behavior was not only unbecoming of a Senate president but also a clear case of sexual harassment.
"We women know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way," she said.
The Senator also alleged that Akpabio made inappropriate comments about her marriage and her husband. "He said, 'Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring, is this an invitation to treat?' " she recalled.
Akpoti-Uduaghan's allegations have been denied by the Senate leadership. Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Senate's Deputy Chief Whip, described the allegations as baseless and unfounded.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains adamant that she is telling the truth. She has taken her case to the international community, filing a petition with the United Nations.
Our Correspondent reports that the senator Natasha's suspension from the Senate has sparked a heated debate about the culture of silence and alleged intimidation in the Nigerian Senate.
Many stakeholders have called for an investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan's allegations and for the Senate leadership to take action to address the issue.
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