Despite the relentless attacks, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, continues to stand firm, much to the dismay of her detractors.
Her suspension from the Senate came shortly after she boldly spoke out about her alleged sexual harassment by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The move defied a valid court order marked by questionable tactics, including alleged photocopying of committee members’ signatures on the Senate Ethics report.
In a move that shocked many Nigerians, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months, far beyond the constitutionally permissible limit of 14 days under the guise of violating Senate rules. Her security details were withdrawn, amongst other stringent punishments, all in clear disregard of multiple court rulings.
A coordinated media smear campaign followed, driven by a known propagandist and blackmailer whose sole job seemed to be tarnishing her hard-earned reputation and manipulating public perception.
Determined to confine her to the dustbin of history, and erase her presence at the hallowed chamber,
they launched a recall process but failed woefully despite the stolen resources committed into it. Despite dragging the federal government into this mess, they have continued to fail miserably.
What they didn’t anticipate was that divine justice often champions the cause of the oppressed.
As we await the court’s ruling on June 27 regarding her suspension, we are hopeful that the judiciary will overturn this illegal action, even though four valuable months of representation would have been lost.
They have tried and failed and they will continue to fail. Their schemes, like desert sand caught in a storm, will scatter and collapse before their eyes.
With the support of her constituents who value her courage and giant strides in such a short time, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains unbroken. She will continue to triumph. It’s Natasha till 2027 and beyond.
– Isah Bala writes from Kogi state.
