Trauma, Resilience, Sex And Survival: The ‘Show Don’t Tell’ Senators Who Neither Bayed For Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Blood, Nor Supported Her Openly
The Oasis Reporters
March 10, 2025
In the slippery surface of political games of power, one deep mortal fear that abides with political practitioners is the fear of scandal. Even the mere scent of it rattles the politician more than anything else in the world.
As far as political merchants are concerned, whatever was done in secrecy must remain in secrecy, for any exposure of it can bring a politician down to the status of a pauper.
It doesn’t matter where. It could be in the US or in Nigeria. That fear lives and no one can predict when hidden stories can crawl out of the closet to ruin careers.
Consider what happened to one of the most likable Presidents in the recent history of America after President JF Kennedy.
The charismatic President Clinton suddenly saw himself facing an impeachment trial because a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, did not shut her trap firm enough after a private romp in whatever form with the president in secret.
Such scandals in the United States and other places have been known to rock the foundation of marriages and careers.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida. Here, Bill Clinton, then a Democratic presidential candidate, visited survivors in Florida City, Florida.
But in the case of Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, sanity prevailed and the fact that she later became a senator, Secretary of State and a Democratic Party presidential candidate showed that there may have been a deal between husband and wife to preserve the home front and get something in return.
In the case between the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the groundswell of support that Senator Akpabio received from fellow senators either in the media, during plenary and the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, the feeling is almost inescapable that scandals of such nature brings disharmony and scare to almost everyone.
Therefore the faster it was shot down, the better for everyone. Unfortunately, the ghosts of incidences of such matters continue to swirl in the atmosphere. They haunt for a long time and linger in the subconscious.
The frenzied attempt by supporters of the Senate President to outdo each other in judging the matter and condemning Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was telling a huge story of unspoken fear on its own.
“She’s a serial accuser. She did the same thing to a Jonathan media aide and it turned out to be a lie”.
“Mr. President, please forgive me for introducing the matter of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to you, despite her being a neophyte in the Senate, I begged you to make her a committee chairman because she is my fellow Kogi sister. Here are my messages to her phone in the past. Please forgive me “.
Even before the presentation of her petition in the Senate, it was obvious that the case was a foregone conclusion. No matter the fact that the gavel spoke three times for the ‘ayes’ to have,it, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was adjudged a goner.
That wasn’t all the drama.
Before the final gavel hit the desk, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was fast on his feet. It seems that his age, which is said to be in the 60s, therefore he consequently did what elderly persons would do. He rose to speak and he did not speak like the much younger sprightly Senators who were solidly behind the Senate President.
Orji Uzor Kalu did not bay for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s blood. After all, at his age, experience and wisdom, singing sweet songs of melody may be reserved only for his grandchildren. Not for pretty damsels. After all, he has seen it all. If ever you find pretty young maidens around him, it may just be for political purposes and not for hints of romps.
If they adore him for the money, fine. And that’s probably all.
He spoke with caution and urged the Senate not to prevent Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s staff to be erased from the Senate because they could be family people who have dependents to cater for. The six months suspension should not affect them.
As if on cue, Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North also rose to his feet in support of Orji Uzor Kalu’s prayer.
Ned Nwoko is also not spring chicken per se.
Not to be outdone, Senator Ahmad Lawan of Borno state rose to speak. He is believed to be in his 60s.
The response from the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to Senator Lawan’s cautionary and experienced statement was the real revelation.
Senator Akpabio took Lawan down memory lane since Lawan has been in the senatorial precinct for a very long time.
It was about Senator Arthur Nzeribe during the second Republic. Nzeribe had been suspended from the Senate for six months because he was carrying his wealth on his shoulders. Each six month suspension kept on being renewed and the man ended up being out of power for two years or more.
Looks like that same saga awaits Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It shows how strong power can be. Her Constituency in Kogi Central looks set to get the punishment for having a Senator who dared to complain about sexual harassment.
After all, another former senator, a lady, Florence Ita Giwa spoke on television that touching happens in the Senate. Not a worthy matter to really complain about to that serious level.
But Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the wife of a High Chief in Delta State.
Well, blame her for not choosing her fights appropriately with weapons of sexual harassment war, using sophisticated gadgets and modern tools. It makes losing almost foregone.
How she moves forward is a critical game to watch in this traumatic battle.
Greg Abolo
