By Austin Ogwuda
….but says, “I am not giving up”
Audacious Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan ironically after boasting to resume plenary on Tuesday (yesterday) following the Court’s judgment directing the Senate to reinstate her did not resume, afterall.
She had shortly after the judgment last week Thursday said, “I thank you (Constituents) for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God”.
The Senate leadership opposed the resumption insisting that she must first of all tender apology as ordered by the same court in two national dailies.
The Senate complex throughout Tuesday was extraordinary heavily guarded and was cynosure of all eyes as press men stood by in anticipation of possible showdown.
Explaining why she failed to live up to her words, Natasha in an interview with the African Independent Television (AIT) said that her decision to shelve her planned resumption was based on legal advice and respect for procedures following a court ruling nullifying her suspension.
She announced her intention to await first of all wait to obtain Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before making her next move.
“By keeping me out of the Chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central; it is denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female Senators now, down from eight.
“I remained active throughout. These are personal initiatives; I was hoping to finish the gold Bill and move on to others like lithium and red mineral legislation. I can’t simply hand them over to others”, she lamented.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan concluded by saying, “I believe in the judiciary, I am not giving up”.
