Former presidential spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Thursday, voiced his concerns over what he described as attempts to silence Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her, a claim that Akpabio has strongly denied.
In an interview, Akande urged the Nigerian Senate to stop what he referred to as a concerted effort to undermine the lawmaker.
He stressed that the leadership of the Senate should handle the allegations dispassionately and fairly.
“They need to stop all these images, meetings, and ganging up against this woman. That has to stop. The leadership of the Senate needs to show us that there is going to be a dispassionate consideration of her allegations,” Akande stated.
He further emphasized that if Akpoti-Uduaghan were found to have violated any rules, the Senate should address it appropriately. However, Akande expressed disapproval of the approach taken so far, noting, “This idea of all of the men coming out and brandishing the rules is not looking pretty at all.”
Akande also cautioned that the Nigerian Senate must avoid sending the message that they are attempting to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan. “This woman has said to the whole world that she has been sexually harassed. We have to be careful, the Nigerian Senate has to be careful not to create an impression that we are trying to silence her,” he added.
He concluded by criticizing the current public reaction, remarking, “What we have been seen so far is a lot of men holding meetings, speaking out, coming to the media to run this woman down. It is a poor reflection on the Nigerian Senate.”
