Pulse.ng : Nigerian youths condemn Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension urge immediate rescind

By Perpetua Onuegbu

A section of Nigerian youths have condemned the suspension of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Upper Chambers of National Assembly and urged for a rescind of the suspension.

The youths led by Kennedy Ahanotu, National Youth Leader of the the Labour Party, made this condemnation during a news conference at the National Headquarters of the party on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the conference, Ahanotu said the youths also frowned at the part played by one of it’s own, Sen. Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District in recommending the suspension.

“Though we are members of the Labour Party, but this briefing is done on behalf of the Nigerian Youths who see me as their leader and voice in times like this, when their rights are trampled and injustices meted.

“The 10th Senate should immediately rescind the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and reconstitute a morally and mentally balanced committee to do proper investigative hearing of the matter.

“We demand that Senator Neda Imasuen be recused from the reconstituted Committee and by this statement calling on the people of Edo South to immediately commence a recall process for Senator Neda Imasuen.

“For his poor representation and conduct at the Senate, it has been observed that Senator Imasuen has not satisfactorily applied internationally accepted principles of fair hearing.”

The youth leader also urged President Bola Tinubu to save the face of Nigeria in the Committee of Nations by speaking up against the humiliation suffered by the female gender in the Nigerian politics.

Ahanotu noted that the first lady having served as a senator in the 9th Assembly had also faced such challenges therefore the president should ensure that his government work to preserve the democratic principles of fairness and rule of law.

He also demanded that the President of the Senate, Sen. God’swill Akpabio must present himself for investigation by an unbiased arm of government.

“He cannot continue to use his privilege position to frustrate the call for justice by the victim, Senator Natasha. A situation where one man will be a judge in his own matter like Senator Akpabio did must be denounced and condemned.

“It’s clear to the Nigerian youths that an investigative panel, which was set for March 11th 2025, was mysteriously rescheduled to hold on March 5th 2025. Our question remains, “What is the haste for???”

“It is on record that this 10th Senate is not known to have shown much urgency or speed in most of their public hearing that has direct bearing with public interest.
There is that there is no current bill that is for public hearing in the national assembly today to address these issues.

“Such as the call for the amendment of the electoral act that will lead to electoral reform; or security sector or economic reforms, police reforms amongst others, but they were in a haste to suspend an opposition voice.

Responding to the questions that the senate only acted on the recommendations of the Ethics and Privileges Committee and not by the orders of the senate president.

“I want to assure you that it is the senate president that is the chairman of the senate and the chairman of the national assembly and he is the one that appoints, fires, whoever becomes a committee chairman.

“So it is him that gave the ethics and privilege committee order to do what they did. So you can’t exonerate the senate leadership from what transpired on that day.

“The clear evidence is that they said it is 11th and brought it back to 5th.” Ahanotu said.

He therefore called for rescind of the suspension on Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan and also urged the people of Edo south to put in motion a process to recall Sen. Imasuen.(NAN)