Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Minister of Education, and good governance advocate, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has again asked the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to stop hiding behind government but step aside and submit himself for investigation over the sexual harassment allegation against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Dr Ezekwesili who took to her X handle one Saturday, lambasted Akpabio for dragging the suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan to court instead of allowing an investigative panel to probe into the matter.
The former Minister who accused Akpabio of abusing court processes and dragging Nigeria’s institution into his personal matters, urged him to retrace his steps.
She wrote: “For months, the world has watched on as you willfully refused to submit yourself as the occupant of an important democratic institution to an independent investigation to clear your name of the allegations of secret harassment against you by Senator @NatashaAkpoti
“Instead, all reasonable persons at home and abroad have watched with consternation, the grievous series of actions that were launched to intimidate and silence your colleague instead of giving her the fair hearing she deserves. “The latest irresponsible, illegal and irrational act of dragging the @NigeriaGov into your personal case only speaks of desperation to dodge the inevitable consequences of not submitting yourself to a transparent and independent process.
“@Senator_Akpabio, please retake your steps and bring this saga to an end by doing the right thing to save our public institutions from being destroyed any further.
“You illegally deployed “Senate Rules” to suspend your accuser and now fail to comply with the same rules that places matters of the kind that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has against you first within the purview of an independent process within the @NGRSenate
“Heed the sound counsel that “A word is sufficient for the wise” and do the following immediately:
“Desist instantly from continuing to abuse our public institutions to shield yourself from independent scrutiny on the allegations made by Senator @NatashaAkpoti
“Encourage your supporters in the Executive Branch to withdraw the irresponsible, illegal and irrational criminal case filed against your accuser. It is offensive in every definition to grossly abuse the Judiciary in this manner.
“Hold a sincere discussion with your colleagues in the @NGRSenate on this protracted matter that is tarnishing the public institution and all within it who have chosen silence in the face of abuse. Offer them a safe space to speak and listen. “Offer to temporarily step aside so that an Independent ad hoc Committee of the Senate is constituted to investigate and hear you and your accuser @NatashaAkpoti so that the right next steps and closure on this embarrassing saga are made.”
