Akpabio/Natasha: Saraki Calls For Discreet Probe

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has expressed shock over the raging dispute between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the senator respresenting Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He said the row had made him sad because of its overall negative effect on the “integrity, sanctity, image and public perception of the institution.”

Saraki, who is also the Waziri of Ilorin, in a statement he issued on the face-off between the two senators titled: “Akpabio-Natasha: Let’s Protect the Institution, Not Individuals”, said every person who has had anything to do with the National Assembly, particularly as a leader, member and worker should always jealously protect these values which make the institution, the numero uno, among the three arms of government.

He therefore charged the two parties in the dispute and their supporters in and out of the chamber to be “mindful of the impact of their actions, inactions, reactions, claims and counter-claims to be sure that nothing is done to rubbish the institution.”

Saraki said the constitution, laws of Nigeria, rules of the Senate as well as parliamentary conventions and practices should be adhered to in resolving the issue adding that the resolution should be done transparently without being seen to be protective of any of the parties. Rather, the objectives should be to unfold the truth and to protect the law-making institution against a wrong perception of involvement in or tolerance of law-breaking.

The dispute between Akpabio and Natasha, which began over a disagreement on a change of sitting arrangement for the female senator got messier on Friday when Natasha accused the Senate President of maligning her because she rejected his advances.

The former Senate President said with the public claims made by Natasha, the right thing to do is to institute an open, transparent and honest investigation by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

He said both parties must submit to the investigation, fully cooperate with the committee and stake their claims before it.

According to him, this was not the first time a Senate President would appear before the committee to aid it in the conduct of a transparent and open investigation.

He said, “I remember during the 8th Senate when a senator claimed that I imported an official car for my use as Senate President and that customs duty was not paid on the vehicle. Since I knew the claim was false, the matter was referred to the Ethics Committee and I appeared before the committee to testify, in the full glare of the media. From my testimony, it was clear the senator who made the allegation got his facts wrong and was only being mischievous.

“Also, on the day the committee submitted its report for debate on the floor, I stepped down and allowed my deputy to preside. The transparent manner in which the investigation and the debate on the report were handled assured everybody that there was no case. This is a precedent that the leadership of the 10th Senate should follow.”

He appealed to the duo not to allow the Senate to be cast in the shroud of an institution encouraging sexual harassment, gender bias, abuse of office, flagrant disregard for standing orders and rules, and lack of orderliness.

“This is what a transparent, open and unbiased investigation should achieve. The due process should be followed in this case such that where anybody is found to have committed any wrong, the wrong should be pointed out and corrected. Also, the right remedy should be made,” he said.

Saraki said it should be clear that he is neither stating that Akpabio is guilty of anything nor is he expressing the opinion that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is right in her actions and claims, adding that, “my position is that an investigation is needed to find out the truth and protect the integrity of the Senate.”