‘Why Tinubu should intervene In Akpabio-Natasha crisis’

A policy think tank under the aegis of the National Transformational Initiative for Reconciliation and Forgiveness Advocacy has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the face-off between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, who […]

A policy think tank under the aegis of the National Transformational Initiative for Reconciliation and Forgiveness Advocacy has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the face-off between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The Executive Secretary of the organisation, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of others, on Friday in Abuja, said though the Senate as an institution has the constitutional powers to regulate its own conduct and affairs through its Standing Orders and Rules, the President can intervene to salvage the country’s image, which is being dragged negatively globally.

He said President Tinubu should invite both parties for dialogue, towards ensuring a truce is reached.

He said that while the misunderstanding between previously perceived two family friends is unnecessarily gathering steam, certain elements are feeding fat from the fallouts, and adding fuel to the inferno, which is why the situation calls for prompt and decisive action to resolve it.

Describing the situation as needless and avoidable, the organisation expressed concern over the increasing tension from the internal crisis in the Senate, saying it has been blown out of proportion and now attracting global attention and putting Nigeria in negative light.

He lamented that a mere reshuffling of sitting arrangements has turned into a national controversy which has resulted to various allegations and insults.

Ibrahim said that the Senate as an institution must be protected from political misadventures and elements who detest the nation’s wellbeing.

He noted that the continued discord in the Senate could erode Nigeria’s hard-earned reputation, thus the need for the President to swiftly initiate a political solution to resolve the matter.

“The Nigerian Senate occupies an enviable position as the highest Legislative Body in the Country and in democratic nuances, every Senator is addressed as distinguished as hallmark of personality values, hence commands huge respect.

“In this guise, the institution must be protected from the vagaries of political misadventures and surreptitious scheming from any quarters, more so from elements who detest our wellbeing.

“It is in the light of the monumental damage being done to our image as a people, that informed our decision to call on Mr. President to wade into the matter and save our dear Country from further bartering of image in the global arena.”

He said that Nigeria is a nation of well cultured people who accord women due respect and dignity.

“The tirades spewing from various quarters over this sad development can only worsen the brewing discord, which some insidious people are already using to heat up the polity in the guise of protests and political scheming.

“To this end we call all parties to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign. We affirm faith that Nigeria, under Mr. President watch, will experience peaceful reign, progress, and tangible indices of development, towards emerging as an indivisible buoyant economic hub, such lofty aspirations in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda, are hinged on our ability to dispassionately nip in the bud any tendentious happenstance rearing it’s head, timely,” Ibrahim said.