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Enough of the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Distraction, Nigeria is More
Enough of the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Distraction, Nigeria is More
By Abdul Isa Jaji
Integrity is central not just in public conduct but in private endeavours. To lack integrity, especially in public affairs, is an anathema that erodes trust and respect. It is for this reason that it is canvassed that those elected or appointed into public institutions should be individuals who have values of integrity, character, and honour.
However, events as orchestrated by the now suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasaha Akpoti-Uduaghan stand in antithesis to the very core of the integrity and decorum expected of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Without a doubt of a comely personage, Senator Natasha has convinced herself to exploit her charm to undo not just Senate President Godswill Akpabio but the entire legislative arm in the country. The Kogi senator has succeeded in bringing to opprobrium the institution of the National Assembly by her foxy and preposterous claim of sexual abuse and harassment by Senate President Akpabio.
While Senator Natasha is beautiful, she isn’t the most charming female senator or lawmaker who has graced the hallowed grounds of the National Assembly to warrant such heady attention. Since 1999 when democratic rule staged a comeback, they have been female lawmakers with poise, charm and class that have walked the sacred halls of both chambers and not one has laid such a weighty charge until now.
It is in the light of this that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, should be commended for laying the gauntlet with clarity over the raging controversy. A senator who was there for 12 solid years and should know better could not have put it any less better when she said, “I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may say, why am I not taking a position? I believe that the Senate is doing what is needful because that’s what it is. It is an inside place, and it’s a matured chamber. It’s a mature chamber, and it should be treated with respect. It’s an honour for you to be in that place alone.
“I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days, and I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time, only that, women raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow.”
Yes, being a lawmaker, for that matter, confers on you certain privileges and an expected temperament and decorum. But Senator Natasha like Cersei of the House of Lannister in the fictional fantasy of Game of Thrones typifies the superficial, the paranoid, and laced with delusions of achieving the impossible; destroy a democracy that was hard fought for when she was still a student in the University of Abuja as at 2000.
It remains inconceivable that Senator Natasha was being sexually harassed by Senate President Akpabio but never uttered the unsolicited advances to any soul, not even her husband. It is further irksome to note that the Akpoti-Uduaghans and Akpabios have come a very long way with the Senate President playing a prominent role in her marriage to Alema Emmanuel Uduaghan and this did not matter to the accuser of the grave damage she was doing to such a rich history.
There must be something more. And that something more may not be far from Natasha’s insatiable quest to dominate, to be the centre of all things grand and rewarding. To imagine that she was often in the entourage of the Senate President to Parliamentary meetings outside the country and suddenly the favour was withdrawn to accommodate other senators has become a cardinal sin that must be met with the gravest of allegations; sexual harassment.
Psychoanalysts will recommend that she gets a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder to unravel the black box that she appears to be.
A critical element that has been ignored in all of this charade is Natasha’s rise to public conscience. It is not as if she had any rich inheritance to have rapidly gained public acclaim before now with her activism over the troubled Ajakouta steel complex in Kogi state. Where did she get funding from her several media forays and campaigns that were not by any means cheap? Was she a foreign agent for some foreign interests desperate to have their hands on the prized steel industry? This puzzle has floated around the social sphere for a long time, and it will be fitting for the embattled Kogi senator to provide some answers.
While arguments persist as to the lengthy suspension, sexual allegations are weighty and can not and should not be trivialized. Every institution, the National Assembly inclusive, have their rules and norms, which need to be adhered to. If a lawmaking institution is left to “anyhow behaviour,” then citizens will lack the moral authority to question “anyhow laws” from such an institution. What Senator Natasha did by not following the rule book not just as to the seating arrangement, but breaching the rights and privileges of her colleague senators by going on national television to levy such weighty allegations deserves the severity of sanctions.
For a lawmaker that simply lacks an understanding of the rules that guides and governs the institution that she was elected to simply means it has been about pancakes and photo moments. It has become apparent that she lacks the skills, tools, and intelligence to be an effective representative of her people. If she were otherwise, she would be focused, diligent, strategic, and not be undone by her own paranoia, which has resulted in her own fall from grace and naked walk of shame.
It is time Nigerians move on to more pressing issues like the N54 trillion budget that was recently passed, the attempt to whittle down the supervision of political parties by the INEC and holding government to scrutiny on issues of insecurity. Enough of the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan distraction!
Isa Jaji writes from Kontagora, Niger State
Enough of the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Distraction, Nigeria is More
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
RHI Flow With Confidence program Launched across Nigeria
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