Sexual Harassment: Annang Traditional Rulers Rise Against Natasha-Akpoti, Says Allegation Exposes Her Moral Bankruptcy
By Dennis Udoma
The Annang ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom has frowned at the alleged sexual harassment allegation by Kogi State Senator Natasha – Akpoti against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by the opposition minority elements, the People’s Democratic party (PDP), as a cheap political blackmail ahead of 2027 elections.
Paramount Rulers, drawn from the eight local government areas in Annang land, under the aegis of Afe Nkuku Annang (ANA), on Friday said rather disgracing their son in the failed plot, Natasha ended up rubbishing herself, Kogi Central Senatorial District, womenfolk and the nation at large.
Rising from a meeting held at the palace of the Chairman of the forum, Obong Cosmss Akpan (JP), who is also the Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim local government area, the group stated that Natasha’s action had exposed her moral bankruptcy and disrespect to our cultural norms.
The royal father’s in a communique signed by the Chairman; Secretary General, Akuku Johnson Obosi (Oruk Anam), and others from Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ika, Obot Akara and Ikot Ekpene LGAs, noted that, Senator Natasha’s allegation was a deliberate attempt to decimate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
According to them, “Senator Natasha’s recent outburst of sexual harrassment against our beloved son, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has rightly betrayed her moral attitude, exposed her moral bankruptcy, and made her vulnerable for cheap bargain.
“Keen spectators of what started with a change of seat before it metamorphosed into a case of shamelessly washing her dirty linen outside, have come out with uncompromising report that the whole scenario looks seemingly sponsored by the forces of opposition parties to kill Tinubu’s dream for 2027 ticket.
“Senator Akpabio, our son has over the years demonstrated pragmatic leadership and should not be distracted by a common agent of darkness stirring unnecessary controversy.
“It’s regrettable that, the confrontations involving this lady and our beloved son with accusations and counter accusations making headlines have the capacity to derail our legislative mechanism and ridicule our identity as a nation.
“While her supposed opposition sponsors, including her Kinsmen and those who share her notorious philosophy continue with their support for her, we as a responsible and intellectually- driven royal family vehemently dismiss Natasha – Akpoti’s campaigns as unconstructive, myopic, counter – productive, disruptive, and ineffective, all loaded into a ship on the voyage of legislative disaster.
“Rather than building our nascent democracy, the situation has the capacity to pollute the legislature space and hinder its originating covenant with the people they represent.
“We also observed that the tensions so generated have discountenanced the integrity of the Senate. The Annang people, the second largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom are known for their resolve to treat others in with justice and equity. They are never cowards, and they quickly recognise their strengths, weakness and emotions.
“Annang people are never intimidated by calumnies and blackmail. They are ready to take risk and face challenges headlong. They are always willing to be open in the face of uncertainty,” the group noted.
The traditional rulers further noted that it was unfortunate that Senator Natasha – Akpoti despite her reckless and uncultured attitude, was falsely drawing support from her Kinsmen, including Ebira people and some media organisations, describing it as hasty indulgence and baseless.
“The Senate President, our son, is known to be morally upright, courageous, open – minded, emotionally intelligent and with inspiring leadership credentials,” they said, adding that such virtues have put him in the right pedestal to effectively represent his people and Nigeria at large.
Although the traditional fathers said they would not take up any issue with her supporters in her ignoble cause, they argued that Natasha’s husband, “Chief Uduaghan, has stooped so low and has lost a sensible part of his moral content to have succumbed to a woman’s pressure to tell lies to the public.”
They recalled that “Natasha’s long history and experience in running down the fame and dignity of prominent Nigerians using her ‘personal resources’ as a bargaining medium, is nothing new to those that know her,” noting that her recent journey to the global inter- parliamentary body to present her case represented what they described as “the latest brand in Natasha’s marketing strategy to make herself an invisible export in disguise.”
The traditional father’s however warned Nigerians to be weary of desperate politicians on evil mission to divide the country, assuring that their position would remain apolitical, but advisory in order that no one ruins the polity with unnecessary political gimmickry.
