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Enough of the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Distraction, Nigeria is More

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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

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We were sexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR, rescued Nigerian workers alleged

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We were sexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR, rescued Nigerian workers alleged

By: Michael Mike

Rescued 12 Nigerian trapped workers in Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday narrated their ordeal on breathing air of freedom in Nigeria, alleging that they were sexually harassed by their Chinese employers while workers at mining site.

The 12 stranded Nigerian men whose video went viral some three weeks ago finally arrived Nigeria and paid an appreciation visit to the NIDCOM office, where they were received by Chairman/ CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and other management staff.

The leader of the rescued workers, Igorigo Freeborn said it is important for the world to know that despite owing them 11 months salaries, “we were homosexually abused by our Chinese employers in CAR.

“I am not ashamed to say it. I want other people to learn from it. We were treated badly there but thank God for sparing our lives to tell the stories today.

“I am one of those people who usually abuse Nigeria and I don’t think anything good can come out of the country but we were all so happy to receive help and succour from Nigeria.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the CAR Ambassador in Bangui, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) ,NEMA, Immigration Service and other government agencies for coming to our rescue almost immediately”, he said.

Freeborn said they had suffered a lot in the past 20 months that they left Nigeria and pleaded with the government to help them redress the injustices meted out to them by their employers.

He recalled how they were left stranded in the forest after work without payment leaving them starving in a harsh and unsafe living conditions. With support from the Presidency Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,NIDCOM, and the Nigerian mission, they were relocated to Bangui, provided with medical care, and eventually brought safely back home.

Welcoming back the returnees to Nigeria, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, assured them that justice will be served as the Commission in conjunction with relevant government agencies would take up the matter on their behalf.

The NIDCOM boss condemned the acts as inhumane and assured that the matter would be pursued to ensure justice is served in line with the citizen diplomacy of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

She counselled them to be of good behaviour and partner with the Commission in its advocacy on irregular migration and its consequences.

NIDCOM through Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa gave some cash support to all the returnees to enable them settle down while expecting their unpaid salaries.

She also called on well meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to assist the Nigerians to settle down back in the country.

A cash donation from Perchstone and Greys, presented by Mr. Toyin Adenugba on behalf of Dr. Tolu Aderemi, Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the JAALS Foundation, were given to all the 12 returnees.

Adenugba explained that the support was a demonstration of belief in the evacuees’ potential, meant to serve as a seed for rebuilding their lives, supporting their families, and creating new opportunities at home.

Other rescued workers are Rotimi Kupoluyi, Ajosi Julius, Odeh Collins, Anifowoshe Yekini, Akubo Oluwaseun and Olayemi Peter Adewale.

Others were Stephen Abel Otkli, Samuel Ojochenemi, Alih Joel Muhammed, Unekwu Bala and Yusuf Bameyi.
End

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Police arrest MOPOL, security guards over warehouse burglary in Ogun

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Police arrest MOPOL, security guards over warehouse burglary in Ogun

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police in Ogun have arrested a mobile policeman and several security guards for alleged conspiracy, burglary and theft from a warehouse belonging to H.K Printing & Packaging Limited, Agbara.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Aug. 9 at about 11:00 p.m., when a truck drove into the company premises and proceeded to the warehouse, allegedly aided by security operatives on duty.

According to the sources, Insp. Ibrahim James, attached to PMF 16 Abeokuta, was captured on CCTV moving around and allegedly leading the operation.

Another officer, Insp. Olabamipe Olaiya, posted to the same beat, was said to be absent from duty at the time.

The company’s security guards and the implicated police personnel allegedly conspired with others still at large to break into the warehouse and cart away goods whose total value is yet to be ascertained.

Police detectives led by CSP Phillips Abayomi, Acting ACP, Agbara Division, visited the scene and arrested the mobile policeman along with the private security guards on duty during the incident.

The suspects are being interrogated, while efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing accomplices and recover the stolen items.

Police arrest MOPOL, security guards over warehouse burglary in Ogun

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Police launch manhunt for herbalist over alleged ritual killing in Nasarawa

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Police launch manhunt for herbalist over alleged ritual killing in Nasarawa

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nasarawa State Police Command says it is searching for a herbalist, simply identified as Alfa, over alleged involvement in a ritual killing and attempted murder in Mararaba.

It was gathered that the case was reported by one Jamilu Abubakar, a vigilante member.

Abubakar allegedly accompanied two young men to Alfa’s residence on Aug. 12 to seek spiritual assistance purportedly to make more money through internet fraud.

“It was gathered that Alfa prepared a concoction and meat for the victims to eat. Shortly after consuming the meal, both developed severe stomach pain and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Mararaba.

“Sadly, one of the victims, Ani Sunday, aged 21, was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, while the second, Tosin Akurunor, is responding to treatment,” said the sources.

He said Abubakar had been arrested for his role in taking the victims to the herbalist, while the main suspect, Alfa, was at large.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Alfa and conclude investigations, he added.

Police launch manhunt for herbalist over alleged ritual killing in Nasarawa

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