‘Still on the matter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan”, former Minister of Education, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, has written “short memos” to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Nigerian Judiciary.
She warned, “those who have ears, let them hear.”
Ezekwesili wrote: “Still on the matter of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“My mom’s constant refrain when advising a person bent on destroying themselves or others was always this:
““A word is sufficient for the Wise”.
“I have short memos for:
“1. The @NGRPresident @officialABAT
“2. The @NGRSenate and @Senator_Akpabio
“3. The Nigerian Judiciary – National Judicial Council – @njcNig .
“Those who have ears, let them hear.”
Following her sexual harassment allegations against Godswill Akpabio, President of the Nigerian Senate, representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was slammed with a six-month suspension by the Ethics Committee of the Senate.
In her memo to President Tinubu, Ezekwesili said: “In this case, with your evident approval, the Executive and Legislative arms of Government are about to once again abuse and violate the Judiciary in a flagrant act of impunity against one out of only 4 women Senators in our country. What a shame!”
Read Ezekwesili’s memo to President Tinubu
Memo to @officialABAT on matter of @NatashaAkpoti
The latest act of State Capture by your administration is to collude for reasons of political gain, with the accused Senate President – to silence and repress a citizen who has made serious allegations against him for which he refuses to surrender himself to independent investigation and fair hearing.
In this case, with your evident approval, the Executive and Legislative arms of Government are about to once again abuse and violate the Judiciary in a flagrant act of impunity against one out of only 4 women Senators in our country. What a shame!
The criminal charges filed by the Federal Government @NigeriaGov against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is an act of gross irresponsibility, illegality, and irrationality. You must take responsibility for this desecration of our Democracy.
But you, @officialABAT can walk back from this latest scandal and terminate this egregious violation of the rights of Senator Akpoti- Uduaghan immediately.
Four things:
1. Please reign in and discipline your Attorney General who is obviously not busy with the important legal reforms necessary for the economic and political progress of the country.
2. Specifically instruct the Attorney General to on the 3rd of June, withdraw that wrongheaded, frivolous and dangerous criminal charges against a woman crying out for fair hearing on her sexual harassment case. Your government must stop making a mockery of our democracy in the eyes of the world.
3. Instruct the Police IG whom you supervise as C-in-C to immediately investigate all the 12 petitions filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the last 3 months on fears for her life. After due investigations, the @PoliceNG must move immediately to impartially take the next appropriate actions.
4. Instruct the IG of Police to immediately reinstate Senator @NatashaAkpoti ‘s security personnel which the Senate President ordered withdrawn in a petty act of retaliation, intimidation and gross abuse of power against Senator Akpoti -Uduaghan for daring to allege that he sexually harassed her.
As my mother used to say, “A word is sufficient for the wise” and wisdom is ever profitable to direct.
It is a Choice and every Choice has consequences.
Will you choose wisdom on this matter , @officialABAT or …….
