Kogi Central group calls on Tinubu, stakeholders to intervene In Senate crisis, moves to recall Natasha |

De Noble Club 10 Kogi Central has called for urgent intervention of President Bola Tinubu and stakeholders in the ongoing crisis in the Senate and the process of recall against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

 Senator Natasha is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate over unruly conduct on the floor of the Senate.

De Noble Club 10, in a three-page appeal, drew the attention of President Tinubu to the danger in allowing the procedural and personal crisis to linger, adding that his intervention would save Nigeria from further embarrassment at the international level.

The appeal was signed by the President of the Club, Alhaji Abdullahi Kayode Mamman, Secretary General, Isa Sule Dania and the Club’s Director of Service, Prince Emman Omadivi.

The Club asked President Tinubu not to pretend as if he doesn’t know the implications of the unnecessary bad blood that is being generated from the Senate, especially on the nation’s psyche.

It described the President as father of the nation and an astute politician, saying: “he should be seen to be in the know of the damage such incidents can cause even his government. As they say a stitch in time saves nine.”

It acknowledged that those who are making moves to recall Senator Natasha have their reasons, but that it is not the right time to do it.

In the appeal titled: “the lingering Natasha-Akpabio- Senate feud – Call for truce”, the Club 10 drew attention to many African cultures which says that if one deliberately sets fire on the bush, one cannot know how far it would go and when it would end, neither can one know or determine the consequences and effects of such fire.

“What started like a joke between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on one hand, and between Natasha and the Senate as a body, has degenerated into putting Nigeria on the defensive and extended to be part of a global discourse, dragging Nigeria into international shame.

“The hallowed chamber of the National Assembly where the number three citizen presides ought to have nipped the ugly situation in the bud before it developed odious wings, but the leadership decided to reduce it to a kind of drama.

“Though we believe in the separation of powers, we believe also that the three arms of government must take note of the fact that in their conducts, there’s a supreme document, a kind of holy book, which contents supersede any other rules, regulations and laws whenever they are being applied.

“While we do not subscribe to rules being flouted, we are not comfortable with the way the Senate treated Natasha by suspending her; we consider it to be too  harsh. In other words, we don’t expect that the hallowed chamber should have:

1. Handed down six months suspension which obviously has denied Natasha’s constituency the desired representation.

2. Deprived her of her salary and security.

3. Locked her office thereby depriving her access not only to her office but the entire National Assembly complex.

4. To crown it all, that she should not be addressed as Senator, which looks very strange because it is not the Senate that elected her. We believe that not even INEC that announced her electoral victory has the power to strip her of the title. We should not, through acts that betray clear vindictiveness, make ourselves a laughing stock in the comity of Nations. Let it be stressed again that while De Noble Club 10 Kogi Central is against misconduct of any kind by anybody in any organisation if such is proved, stringent measures such as have been taken against a fellow Senator should be properly weighed before being implemented. Setting such dangerous precedent does not portend healthy political democracy we have set ourselves to practise.  

“We are all aware that this is a matter that borders on constitutional provisions which can be applied with clear unambiguous intent; without ulterior motives or acrimony. However, with some politicians behind the move ascribing it to pure politics; saying that whoever can’t do it should not be in it smells odious.

“We have no doubt, anyway, that those in the forefront for the recall have their reasons but we are aware that people are asking questions as to whether this is the right time for it and whether they actually have the requirements as well as whether or not the Senator being targeted is actually guilty of the offence(s).

“All said and done, the overriding question has become inevitable: how do we, from Kogi Central Senatorial District, see ourselves in politics; is it as enemies or for the sake of interest?

We are using this medium to appeal to our leaders to come out and intervene in the ongoing needless recall process and the underlying issues that roused it. We have to do something positive to stave the generation of bad blood amongst the constituents of the Senatorial District for the comfort and benefit of our children, including those unborn.

“We reiterate our clarion call on our leaders, players behind the scene and the actors to sheathe their swords and work for the rapid development of our dear land. 

“They should understand that in politics there are constant movements: today, some people who are in party A who see others in part B as enemies may find themselves together in party C tomorrow.

De Noble Club 10 Kogi Central is in solidarity with Coalition of Civil Society groups and other groups who preach and share our aspirations.”

The Club advised Senator Natasha to consider adopting the give-and-take mantra in matters affecting her constituency, saying that it is making moves to have audience with the Senator for one-on-one mutual discussion.

The Club reiterated its call on all parties involved to give peace a chance for the sake of our birthplace in particular and the country in general, 

De Noble Club 10 Kogi Central is said to have existed for 48 years during which time a few individuals have assisted it to some extent. 

“We have carried the burden of the land on our head for such a long time. We have held self-financed, cost-effective annual Summer School and radio program for over 10 years as parts of our voluntary contributions to the growth and development of the land into which we were born. 

“This is being done notwithstanding the fact that 85 percent of the members are retirees. In the absence of financial support for our programs, God Almighty has been our source of strength.”

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