CurrentReport Blog The Igbo Progressive Women’s group has called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to cease what they describe as her ongoing embarrassment of the Nigerian Government in the international arena. This demand comes in the wake of claims made by the senator that there was a planned attempt to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria. The senator’s claims, linked to her participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York on March 11, have sparked controversy and drawn sharp reactions from the women’s group.
In her appearance at the IPU meeting, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about her suspension from the Nigerian Senate and allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. These statements and the senator’s subsequent actions have led to criticism from the Igbo Progressive Women, who have questioned her motives and the international attention her case has attracted.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Mrs. Grace Ohabuenyi, the President of the Igbo Progressive Women, expressed her dismay at how Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions were unfolding. She stated that the senator’s public outcry and the manner in which she had escalated the issue were beginning to appear as though she was being backed by certain elements with an agenda to embarrass the Nigerian Government on the global stage.
Mrs. Ohabuenyi, while acknowledging the senator’s grievances, expressed concern that the matter was being dragged into the international spotlight rather than being resolved through appropriate legal channels. She emphasized that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s decision to speak at the IPU while still suspended from the Senate raised significant questions regarding her motives.
“We had earlier exercised restraint over this matter owing to the fact that it concerns a fellow woman,” said Mrs. Ohabuenyi. “However, the direction this issue has taken suggests that there may be more to the senator’s actions than meets the eye.”
The statement pointed out a previous comment made by Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who revealed that both her family and that of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan were long-time family friends. Mrs. Ohabuenyi questioned why the senator had not mentioned the alleged harassment to the Senate President’s wife but chose to publicize the matter later, after violating Senate rules. This, according to the group, raised further doubts about the senator’s true intentions.
The Igbo Progressive Women also expressed skepticism regarding how Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was able to attend the IPU meeting, given her suspended status in the Senate. They are calling for an investigation into who facilitated her appearance at the international forum and what the senator’s true motives were for seeking the international stage despite her ongoing legal battle.
“Ordinarily, her outcry would have attracted sympathy,” Mrs. Ohabuenyi noted, “but the way it has played out, with all the senators standing together against her, suggests she may not be following the right path.” The group further raised concerns about the senator’s apparent attempt to gain international attention, potentially undermining the Nigerian government’s image and distracting from the proper legal processes underway.
The women’s organization also warned that actions like those of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan could have serious repercussions for women in politics in Nigeria. Despite the ongoing campaign for greater female representation and involvement in politics, the group cautioned that divisive and controversial actions like these might erode the progress made in promoting women in political leadership. “We have been advocating for women to be given serious positions in government, but incidents like this undermine all our efforts to promote inclusivity,” Mrs. Ohabuenyi said.
The Igbo Progressive Women are now calling on Nigerian security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the senator’s trip to New York. They want to determine who facilitated her international appearance and explore any possible motives behind her actions.
In closing, the group asserted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behavior, in their view, was no longer about the alleged harassment by the Senate President but seemed to be part of a broader agenda to challenge the current Nigerian government. “This is not in the best interests of women in government,” the statement concluded.
As the controversy continues to unfold, all eyes remain on the Nigerian Senate and the international community as they await clarity on the senator’s claims and the motivations behind her actions.
