Not because of s3xual harassment Senate reveals why Natasha was suspended from the Senate
Not because of s3xual harassment Senate reveals why Natasha was suspended from the Senate
The Senate has faulted claims in some quarters that the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was suspended over her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Rather, the upper chamber said that the senator was suspended due to her flagrant disobedience to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
Leader of the senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, made the clarifications in a statement issued on Saturday.
Bamidele said that the clarification had become necessary in view of what he called deliberate misinformation and false narratives being circulated by certain media organisations.
He said that Akpoti-Uduaghan was also suspended because of her ‘unparliamentary behaviour’ during senate plenaries and proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had based Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension for six months on the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The senator had on Thursday been suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan over her alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the senate’s sitting arrangement during the plenary.
The suspension was, however, with a proviso that if the senator could submit a written apology, the leadership of the chamber might consider lifting the suspension before the expiration of the six-month period.
“Rather than submitting to the authority of the senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan had been misinforming the unsuspecting public that she was suspended because she accused the senate president of sexual harassment,” Bamidele said.
She stated that the disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan was a response to her repeated violations of legislative decorum.
“Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the senate.
“It has come to the attention of the senate that some media reports are attempting to falsely suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to allegations of sexual harassment.
“This is completely untrue, misleading and a calculated attempt to distort the facts.
“If Akpoti-Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the senate would have treated her petition based on merit, in line with its practice.
“But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving,” he said.
Bamidele specifically said that the senator’s suspension was the “decision of the Committee of the Whole of the Senate, following the submission of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.”
The majority leader said that the report found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) and recommended her immediate suspension.
“As established in the findings of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the disciplinary action was a response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s repeated violations of legislative decorum stated as follows:
“Refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on Feb. 25 in spite of multiple pleas from the Minority Leader and other ranking senators—an act of open defiance and disorderly conduct.
“Speaking without being recognised by the presiding officer, in clear violation of parliamentary practices and procedures on Feb. 25.
“Engaging in unruly and disruptive behaviour, obstructing the orderly conduct of senate proceedings.
“Making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the leadership of the senate.
“Defying and refusing to comply with the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated to investigate cases of misconduct,” the statement said.
Bamidele further stated that contrary to the false claims being circulated, Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended for making any sexual harassment or for submitting a petition.
“Her petition was rightfully discountenanced because it failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the senate,”.he said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
NNL/WAS
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Eighth Senate, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
“I was insistent on speaking truth to power, and that was why I lost my re-election bid in 2019. Former Gov. Narsir El-Rufai was going for a 340 million dollar loan and we said ‘No’.
“”Some of us told him that such a venture would impact negatively on our people, but he went ahead and did that, while he perceived us as his political enemies.
“”This political battle with El-Rufai affected several other politicians, resulting in our leaving the party en masse.
“My own very case was that I stood up to the governor and I paid the price by losing my seat,” he said.
The popular pro-democracy activist, however, said that today, he had been vindicated.
“At that time, the governor was opposed to me; the state assembly members were opposed to me and many political figures there were opposed to me.
“Today, I am vindicated because even the governor of the state today has made it public how the finances and the economy of the state have been strangulated by that loan.
“Many projects were littered, uncompleted and abandoned all over the state. Kaduna today has become the second highest indebted state in the country.
“So I am vindicated, even though I lost my seat,” he said.
Sani said he was satisfied with the role he played on the controversial loan at that time.
“I’m satisfied that, at least, when I die, nobody will look to my grave and say this is the person who signed an approval for the loan that we are going to pay in 100 years.
“The vindication is more important to me than my return to the National Assembly,’’ he said.
The former lawmaker attributed the failure of most members of the national assembly to return to their refusal to be loyal to their governors.
This, he said, often resulted in high turn-out of lawmakers in each election year.
Sani, however, said that the high number of new lawmakers in national and state houses of assembly at every election year was not the best for Nigeria’s democracy.
He said that in the developed world, such as India and the United States, some lawmakers would be in the legislature for 30, 40 and 50 years.
“But in Nigeria, if you are a senator and you are fond of standing up every time to speak truth to the power, you will hardly come back to that national assembly.
“If what you are doing or saying is particularly contrary to the interests of the governor of your state, you will not come back to the national assembly,’’ he said.
The former senator also said that irrespective of a lawmaker’s qualifications, he could only emerge as senate president or speaker of the house if he happened to be the favourite of the executive.
“It’s only during Buhari’s time that a mistake was made in 2015 which made Buhari lose the election at the national assembly.
“Then his adversary Sen. Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara took over and you could see what happened for four years.
“ So, if you are elected as a governor of a state, your life is dependent on the state assembly and you cannot allow your enemy to take over.
“So, you will bring someone whose first qualification is not that he speaks good English, second qualification is not that he is competent, third qualification is not that he is good looking and fourth qualification is not that he knows how to make laws.
“The first qualification of a person who is going to be a speaker is that he is 100 per cent loyal to the governor or the president,’’ Sani said.(NAN)
News
Why I pulled out of World Bank loan, refused to borrow—Gov– Nigerian Governor
Why I pulled out of World Bank loan, refused to borrow – Nigerian Governor
Gov Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra says his administration pulled out of an existing loan arrangement with the World Bank to save the state from “debt overhang”.
Soludo said this while addressing members of the Late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah Media team who were on inspection of the ongoing Government House and Governors Lodge project in Awka on Sunday.
He said his administration had not only refused to borrow from any bank or institution but also refused to access the Federal Government loan to states in 2024.
He said that notwithstanding the development, his administration had embarked on ambitious and people oriented projects which were at various stages of completion.
According to him, it may interest you to know that Anambra is the only state that pulled out of an existing World Bank loan arrangements which was signed before I came in.
“I looked at the terms of the loan and I said it was not sustainable; it was easy to continue with it because the next generation will pay but based on the terms, it was a bad deal for Anambra.
“Last year N438 billion was distributed to 35 states, Anambra was the only state that did not take it. I need money but I cannot borrow my state into slavery,” he said.
Soludo said he was giving Anambra a permanent Government House and Governor’s Lodge 34 years after it was created, expressing regret that the facilities had exited at a construction company office and outside Awka respectively.
He said that it was a magnificent project with about 34 buildings which were being built to last, such that in the next 200 years, they would still be standing like the White House in America.
“I said we are going to break the jinx and we are doing that with the biggest and the best that somebody said is going to be like a mini city,” he said.
Soludo said he had done over 750 kilometers of roads with about 410km completed with attention to parts of the state that had not seen tarred roads since their existence.
“We have touched education, health, youth empowerment, social reorientation and bringing back our value of dignity in labour against this new get rich quick mentality that is destroying our youths.
“I told Anambra people when I was sworn in that I will show them where every Kobo they gave me is channeled,” he said.
Mr Kamen Ogbonna, the Leader of the Ubah media team said they were impressed with what the governor was doing as it aligned with their Philosophy.
Ogbonna said it was interesting to note that Soludo had made such progress in three years without borrowing from any source.
“The magnitude of the Government House and Governors Lodge will tell you why other governors carefully avoided the project,” he said.
Nollywood stars including Steve Alajemba (Uwaezuoke) and Collins Monago who were on the trip lauded Soludo for his works and urged Anambra people to support him to continue the good job as they prepared for Nov. 8 guber. (NAN)
News
Four suspected bandits arrested by Police operatives, AK-47 riffle others retrieved
Four suspected bandits arrested by Police operatives, AK-47 riffle others retrieved
The Police in Kano have apprehended four suspects over alleged banditry in the state.
The police also recovered arms and ammunitions from the suspects at Chula Filling Station in Hotoro area of Kano metropolis.
The spokesman of the Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, stated this at a news conference on Saturday in Kano.
He said operatives of the command, led by SP Ahmad Abdullahi acting on credible intelligence apprehended the suspects (names witheld) on March 6, at about 2:00 p.m.
“The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence that they intended to purchase an AK-47 Rifle,” he said.
Kiyawa listed the items recovered to include three locally made revolvers; 12 live ammunition of different calibers, three cartridges, two cutlasses, four knives, 24 pieces of ball bearings, N1,028,800 cash and charms.
He said the suspects were under going discreet investigation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and would soon be charged to court.
“This achievement demonstrates the command’s commitment to tackle the infiltration of banditry and other forms of criminality in the state,” he said.
The spokesman lauded the residents of the state for their support and cooperation in its efforts to maintain law and order. (NAN)