Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan should take her case out of court; we don’t want women to look like they are emotionally unstable, says Sen. Biodun Olujimi, Former PDP Senator, Ekiti South.
In an interview with Arise TV’s edition of Primetime, former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Biodun Olujimi, offered insights into the ongoing controversy between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. According to Olujimi, Akpabio has a penchant for making light of serious matters, which can sometimes make him appear vulnerable to criticism and misunderstanding.
Addressing the altercation in the Senate, Olujimi affirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan was ruled out of order because she spoke from an unassigned seat, which is against Senate rules. “In the Senate, you can never speak outside of your designated seat. It is a rule, and it is binding,” she explained.
Olujimi noted that it was the Chief Whip, not Akpabio, who initially raised the objection to Akpoti-Uduaghan speaking from the wrong seat. Once the ruling was made, it became final.
Olujimi expressed concern over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s approach to the issue, urging her to seek resolution within the Senate instead of escalating the matter publicly. “There are several channels within the Senate to resolve disputes. Taking issues outside weakens the institution,” she cautioned.
She highlighted the importance of women in leadership maintaining solidarity and resolving internal disputes without damaging institutional credibility. “In the 8th and 9th Senate, we, as female Senators, had a bond and resolved our issues internally,” she noted.
Reacting to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of sexual harassment against Akpabio, Olujimi called for a thorough investigation. “Sexual harassment is a serious issue, and I will not condone it. However, at a certain age, allegations should be properly substantiated before conclusions are drawn.”
She also remarked that during her time in the Senate, she never encountered such issues from Akpabio or other senators. “He was one of us, and he treated us with dignity and decorum,” she stated.
The former Senator acknowledged that Akpabio has had previous disputes with strong women in power, referencing past incidents involving female political figures. However, she defended his character, stating that his lighthearted nature often leaves him open to misinterpretation. “He jokes a lot and tries to make light of everything, but that sometimes makes him vulnerable,” she said.
Regarding the lawsuit against the Senate President and others, Olujimi refrained from making definitive statements, emphasizing that legal matters should be handled through proper judicial processes.
The post Akpabio Jokes A Lot And Makes Fun Out Of Everything; This Makes Him Vulnerable — Sen. Olujimi appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
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