•says duration of lawmaker suspension too long
A former lawmaker who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011, Senator Ayodele Arise has faulted the duration of suspension slammed on Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the 10th Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the Red Chamber sequel to the adoption of recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions led by Senator Neda Imasuen.
Speaking on Arise TV Morning Show programme, Senator Arise who said only two weeks was proper, noted that the action of Senator Godswill Akpabio led Senate was capable of depriving her constituency, Kogi Central, representation.
He said: “When you suspend an elected person, you deprive that particular district of the right to representation. The court, in the cases of Omo-Agege and Ndume, has said those six months are too long. And is not legal. They implied that only two weeks should be appropriate for an erring senator. There should be punishment for breach of senate rules; the idea is to put somebody in order for not more than 30 days.”
The former lawmaker faulted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for her startling revelation of alleged sexual harassment by the President of the Senate.
He said: “Every woman that is good-looking radically is subjected to such gestures (sexual). Even people take other people’s wives, not even Nigeria. Would that be an issue for the TV for a senator? Of course, it wouldn’t have been right if it had happened. Even compliments like you are beautiful and you are gorgeous could be termed as sexual harassment.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE : Natasha’s suspension settled, no going back – Akpabio
“So, we need to know where it starts and where the limit is. “The one that the law recognises and can be easily proven is if you rape a woman, there are ways this could be detected, and the law would take its course.
“If she were the president of Nigeria, would she accuse anybody of sexual harassment? She is a senator, and what happens to saying ‘no’ when such issues arise? She could have removed her hand when she said the Senate president held her hand and let him know that this was a no-go area.
“When Senator Akpabio calls a male senator to see him in a hotel, would he read any meaning to it, on the floor, you are equal. If she doesn’t want to come to the hotel, she can decline the offer. There are so many things that can be discussed in the senate rather than this. This does not deserve the attention that people are giving it.”
and then