Akwa Ibom Women Reject Natasha’s Allegations Against Akpabio
Akwa Ibom women, including those from the Niger Delta region, have strongly condemned the sexual harassment accusations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, calling the claims “unfounded” and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, recently accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her in the Senate Chamber during an interview on Arise TV. She also claimed that she faced suppression and victimization due to her refusal to yield to his alleged advances.
The women, particularly from Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta, have expressed their discontent, asserting that such accusations are malicious and aimed at discrediting Akpabio, the Senate President and third-highest-ranking official in Nigeria. The women argued that they will not sit idly by while one of their own, a fellow woman, seeks to undermine their respected leader.
On Saturday, a group of irate women marched through the streets of Uyo Plaza, holding placards with messages like “Number 3 man deserves respect, Natasha, show some,” “Ijaw women demand respect for our leaders,” “Natasha, don’t embarrass us with your behaviour,” and “Respect for husbands is our tradition, Natasha.” They demanded an immediate apology from Akpoti-Uduaghan, warning that failure to do so would bring severe consequences.
During the protest, Grace Mathias, a representative from Essien Udim Local Government, emphasized that women in Akwa Ibom would not tolerate any disrespectful conduct against their leaders, including Akpabio. She strongly stated that if Akpoti-Uduaghan persisted with her allegations, the women would resort to prayers to “put her in order.”
Mathias added, “We, the women of Akwa Ibom and the Niger Delta, are telling Natasha to leave our son, Akpabio, alone. Stop disrespecting him. If you continue down this path, we will kneel and pray, and heaven will rise against you. Our son has been a good leader and has always honored us. Enough is enough.”
The protest underscores the deep reverence the Akwa Ibom people, especially women, have for Akpabio, and their determination to defend his integrity against what they perceive as baseless and harmful allegations. The ongoing standoff highlights the deepening divide over the claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the dispute continues to unfold.
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Akwa Ibom Women Reject Natasha’s Allegations Against Akpabio