News
Natasha-Akpabio: What Senate integrity is Ned Nwoko talking about?
Only someone who has not met Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and now Nigerian Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, would fail to feel a sense of loss at what is happening today within his circle. Anyone who has, especially at close quarters would be touched deeply about the turn of events.
I have had the privilege of meeting him at such quarters many times, enough for me to place him where I believe he reasonably belongs in the political history of Nigeria. That leads me to the conclusion that there are very few, if anybody in that Senate, as presently constituted that could best him for that prime seat of primus inter pares. He is completely fit for purpose as POTS.
I dare say, as governor, Akpabio reflected some of the enchanting qualities of politicians of old – the flamboyance of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abubakar Rimi, the debonair presence of Joseph Wayas, the wittiness of Chuba Okadigbo, the eloquence of Bola Ige, the vision and transformation skills of Obafemi Awolowo. See what he did with Akwa Ibom for starters. The sudden transformation of that hitherto nondescript and unknown space is ample evidence, of what I’m talking about.
How many Nigerians knew of that state before the arrival of Akpabio? For those who might think it was about the sudden huge wealth the state came into by acquiring some big oil wells, the question might be, how many of what Akwa Ibom was in Akpabio’s time is left today after his departure?
When he was there the state was arguably the Nigerian destination of choice for local and international events. Akwa Ibom not only found special place in the hearts of Nigerians but even elevated to the global map.
Is it still the same today? Hasn’t the state returned to its former status obscurity and ordinariness regardless of the wealth? Yes, those who came after him may have achieved some mind-blowing landmarks as well, but without the Akpabio shine, those efforts only revert to the biblical construct of lighting a candle and covering it with a vessel instead of putting it on a candlestand.
Elsewhere, he was clearly to then PDP what Nyesom Wike is today to the APC government without the brusqueness and obtrusiveness, even after office. Yes, there was the loudness, but not the rash, brash, impertinence, associated with the Minister of the FCT. Akpabio obviously didn’t talk down on Nigerians, he rather wooed them like a love-struck suitor and that left a different mark, more positive than negative, as in today’s switch of places.
Not that he did not have his fair share of scandals and nasty stories – who didn’t as a politician? Even Zik and Awo, in their primal attainment, had. But all those were subsumed in the hollows of the flowing gowns. That was also true of Akpabio.
That was before the APC came calling. No doubt that evil hand, made manifest under Muhammadu Buhari has obviously touched the man with uncommon phenomenon. He seems to have been tinkered to shape into the APC structure.
Imagining Akpabio sitting at the Senate today as the primus inter pares under the PDP, and the picture he depicts otherwise, leaves me with a dose of pity and sour taste, knowing what Nigeria must have missed. It confirms how anything and everything APC hammer touches, turns around from smooth and straight to rough and crooked.
So, when Ned Nwoko, Senator representing Delta North came a few days ago with his own version of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in what some people have termed the Akpabiogate, and chose to go after the female Senator for, in his estimation, injuring the “integrity” and “reputation” of the Senate, the question is what integrity? What reputation?
In a piece I just read from the Senator, titled: Defending the Senate’s Integrity Against Emotional Manipulation and Misrepresentation, Nwoko, argued: “The recent outcry over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been twisted into a false narrative of victimisation and suppression. Let it be clear: what was before the Senate was not her petition – something she herself has confirmed – but her conduct on the Senate floor, which violated the decorum expected of lawmakers.”
After making a song and dance about the Senate rules and why they must be respected, he not only implied that it was appropriate that the neck of the Kogi Senator was put on the guillotine, for offending those rules, but emphasised why the allegation of sexual harassment must be concerned to the dustbin.
He even blamed the husband of the Senator for not hushing her up, stressing that he would have done exactly that if it were any of his wives that was involved. But where he seemed to have scraped the wounds of Nigerians was when he began to stress the importance of strong institutions. Instructively, he recognised it as the bulwark of strong democracies across the world.
Hear him: “The Senate must not bow to emotional blackmail or social media outrage fueled by half-truths. Nigeria’s democracy thrives when its institutions are strong, disciplined, and governed by rules – not when they are manipulated to serve personal or partisan interests. We must ensure that the principles of accountability, order, and respect remain the guiding forces of our legislative process. This is not about silencing anyone; it is about ensuring that the Senate remains a place of reasoned debate, not theatrical disruptions.”
I couldn’t agree more. In fact, Nwoko would not be the first to make the point of strong institutions being the vortex of democratic practice. On 11 July, 2009, Barack Obama, then President of the United States of America, while addressing the Ghanian Parliament, on his first visit to Africa, told his audience: “Africa doesn’t need strong men, it needs strong institutions.”
But then, where he failed, and fatally so, was in his rating of the suspension of Natasha among the ways to achieving this. No way! The issue of Natasha doesn’t even merit any reckoning considering what the situation in Nigeria and where the Senate comes in or ought to have come in, in that regard.
See what a strong institution looks like. On February 4, 2020, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, tore the State of the Union address presented by Donald Trump in the presence of the President of the United States and before global television cameras. How about that? Was she afraid that the entire roof of the capitol would collapse on her head? There was a strong bulwark to protect her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare.
Juxtapose that with the Ned Nwoko parliament in Abuja, where then of the PDP, he joined other opposition colleagues in singing – on your mandate we shall stand – for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in its hallowed chambers, just to lullaby and serenade the President. Imagine that! Imagine what people in sane climes would be thinking of that selfsame Senate.
Imagine too what would happen if the same Trump picked up his bag one hot afternoon in Washington, heads to Air Force One, and zooms off to Singapore and cause the White House to issue a statement telling Americans that the POTUS, would be spending the next two weeks in the country – on working visit – without prior notice and full details of the benefits to Americans. Imagine what the US congress would do.
But today, the same Tinubu is in France for 14 days on the same account. He did not even make a national broadcast to try and convince Nigerians on the raison d’etre for the trip and the critical nature of the choice. No! It was Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman that would deliver the fait accompli in the usual take-it-or-leave-it manner.
Yet, the same Senate that is craving integrity and reputation, sees no reason not to bark, even if it couldn’t bite, at least to demonstrate its presence. Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time. This was just few weeks after committing the blunder of approving the State of Emergency imposed in Rivers State and the demolition of the democratic institutions that come with it, for which the entire globe is still at a loss today.
So, that Nigerians sneer at not only the Senate, but the entire National Assembly today, cannot be because it failed or was unable to curtail the excesses of Natasha, as Nwoko attempted to infer, but because they know that it is completely bereft. It is neither representative of the people nor does it care about the country as a whole. Where then are the reputation and integrity to protect?
In the first place, such a mundane issue of seating arrangement bruhaha would not have arisen. In a serious Senate Natasha wouldn’t have had the temerity to put up the act of February 20, 2025 if she believed it was home to serious business. That she did, is a demonstrable example of what that critical institution has been reduced to.
So, either way – whether Akpabio actually wanted her to warm his bed or she simply made up the story – exploiting feminism sentiments, it still ends up an adumbration of the parlous state of the NASS as a whole and its notorious image particularly.
Moreover, Nwoko’s other arguments hold no water. I’m sure that he has heard that hell hath no fury than a woman scorned. The day the whole world would hear his dark secret is when he quarrels with his delectable Regina Daniels. Nobody knew that Churchill was a one-minute-man, until the day he called it quits with Tonto Dike.
So, asking why Natasha is just coming out to reveal what happened a year ago, resembles a naïve question a child would ask. Only a rookie would fail to know that in the heart of a woman lurks millions of secrets, which only she could reveal at the time that suits her. Place a mirror in that heart and see how much the inelastic capacity of a woman to conceal.
So, assuming, but not conceding that the Senate President actually toasted her, would it not be normal for her to keep it away from the husband in this context? And if she decided to squeal, wouldn’t it be an extra?
Even ugly women, married or single, get courted daily at the malls, markets, buses, airports and all manner of places. A woman, who comes home daily to regale her spouse of the number of men on her matter, is even more likely to be seen as flippant and unserious, especially in this clime, where women are expected to take care of themselves.
Natasha gave the impression that she had to come out because she felt the harassment was taking a toll on her job as a Senator because Akpabio, who would not take no for an answer decided to punish her for refusing his advances.
Might well be true. Might also be that she indeed sucked the attention and the munificence that came with it and might even have caved in later if the Senate President was patient enough and not have taken the said juicy committee away from her.
It might be, as many have also advanced that she was telling outright lies and simply leveraging on her endowments to hoodwink the unwary – a gambit her traducers accuse her of being adept at to make her public pitch.
Nobody knows. But what is clear is Natasha’s case would have paled to insignificance and reduced to the backwaters of national discourse if the Senate actually had a enough reputation and integrity. It is more likely to be the deficit of same that is at play.
If this were the same Senate under the NASS that displayed bribe money in its chambers or the one that killed that infamous Third Term Agenda, Natasha might not have been of any issue at all. She wouldn’t even dare.
Not only that nobody would believe her, but not a few would have derided it with the dismissive comment with which they treat everyday man-woman issue – so what?
From Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former President, came a mild rebuke to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, who in assessing the quality of his six-year tenure as Nigerian leader, all but dismissed him as “inexperienced.”
Atiku, a guest of Prime Time, a public affairs programme on ARISE NEWS Television, last week, told his host that Jonathan was inexperienced, saying his tenure was marked by notable missteps.
“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” Atiku, currently chasing the number one job the former President exited in 2015 for the seventh time, said.
But in a measured riposte at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan, while acknowledging that he must have made some mistakes, argued that errors were inevitably with human beings as only God could be perfect,
Reacting to Atiku’s remarks, he told his audience: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.
“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?
“I’m talking to diplomats, so I can say that during my period, I knew what I did for us to appear in the UN Security Council two times… If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process.”
Jonathan also spoke on regional affairs, warning that political instability remains a major obstacle to economic growth across West Africa. He stressed that without stable governance systems, meaningful development in the sub-region would remain elusive.
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he said.
Jonathan noted that while the founders of ECOWAS envisioned strong economic cooperation, persistent political crises have hindered progress, particularly in enforcing democratic standards among member states.
“That means that ECOWAS must interfere with the internal affairs of the states, and the issue of sovereignty becomes a problem,” he said.
Jonathan urged leaders in the region to work collectively towards stability, saying, “The heads of states of ECOWAS must continue to work together and agree on concrete terms and make sure that the sub-region is politically stable.”
He added that economic integration efforts would falter without solid democratic institutions and called on Nigerian diplomats to properly document foreign policy experiences for future leaders.
Paying tribute to ECOWAS founders, including former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, Jonathan described the creation of the bloc in 1975 as a bold and necessary step toward regional unity and economic integration.
Gowon, who was also honoured at the event, recounted the origins of ECOWAS, linking its formation to post-war diplomatic engagements across West Africa.
According to him, “It was as a result of the various efforts of all Nigerians when we went through a very difficult period, and I had to go to the various countries to say thank you.”
He said discussions with regional leaders at the time led to a shared vision for broader cooperation.
“Why don’t we also think about having something that we can at least have in agreement for all of us when we are working together?” he said.
Gowon emphasised that ECOWAS was the product of collective effort rather than individual ambition, crediting government institutions and civil servants for its success.
“This would not have been possible without the support of all the staff of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development,” he stated.
He added that the recognition bestowed on him should be shared widely.
“The honour that is being done to me today should really go back to all the staff that worked so hard to make sure that this became a reality,” he said.
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria, Joe Keshi, highlighted the importance of honouring excellence in diplomacy, noting that the awards celebrate dedication and service to Nigeria and the continent.
“Diplomacy is one profession where success is often invisible, reflected not by news coverage, but by maintained stability, prevented conflicts, cultivated partnerships,” he said.
Keshi noted that the event coincides with the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, describing the organisation as “a bold experiment in regionalism,” and urged diplomats to adapt to evolving global challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waheed Shaibu, also praised Gowon, describing him as a symbol of national unity and visionary leadership.
He said the recognition offers a chance to reflect on a legacy “defined by visionary leadership, courage, and unwavering commitment to the unity, stability, peace, and progress” of Nigeria.
Shaibu added that Gowon’s leadership reflected “patriotism, resilience, and a profound sense of duty,” while commending ARCAN for its continued contribution to diplomatic discourse and Nigeria’s global engagement.
After months of official hiatus, the Federal Government, on Tuesday finally got on the way with the trial of those fingered in the alleged plot to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a coup, including Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum.
The move, which apart from the former Governor of Bayelsa State, came with the filing of a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the alleged plotters including Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired Naval Captain, Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving police inspector, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Sylva, whose name surfaced as one of the plotters when the news first broke and believed to be the major financier of what would have led to another military government in Nigeria after the last ended in 1999, was listed as being at large – on the run.
The charge, filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), accuses the defendants of offences ranging from alleged treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.
Furthermore, the defendants were also accused, according to the charge, of, while “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a peace officer.”
They were also accused of failing to take preventive steps and “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence”.
Beyond treason, the defendants are facing terrorism-related charges of conspiracy under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The charge also accused the defendants of providing support for terrorism, alleging that they “knowingly and indirectly rendered support” to facilitate acts of terror.
The prosecution alleged deliberate suppression of intelligence, stating that the defendants “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable”.
Financially, several defendants were accused of handling funds linked to terrorism financing, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000, which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing”, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2m from a similar source.
According to the charge, Zekeri Umoru “without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000″ and also retained an additional N8.8m suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of “the sum of N1,000,000, being part of proceeds of terrorism financing”.
Alleged Coup Plot, Protests
After the Federal Government cancelled the parade to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary on October 1, 2025, reports had claimed that the move was linked to an alleged coup attempt.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the claims, however, saying the parade cancellation had nothing to do with the alleged coup attempt.
In January 2026, the DHQ confirmed that there was an attempt to overthrow President Tinubu.
The DHQ Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said investigations showed some military personnel were involved in the alleged coup plot.
According to Uba, the officers have been detained and would be arraigned before military judicial panels.
Last month, families of the military officers detained over the alleged coup plot appealed to Tinubu to allow the suspects to be tried in an open court.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore protested alongside the detained officers’ families. They also asked for access to the alleged coup plotters.
From the seat of the Presidency, came what indicates a clear and open support for the camp in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fighting David Mark, National Secretary and Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary, respectively.
The signal came from Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, who practically threw his weight behind Leke Abejide, one of the arrowheads wedging the war that could see the main opposition party in Nigeria not presenting a candidate for next year’s presidential election.
Against the backdrop of allegations that Aso Rock has been fuelling the various crises in the major political parties, Gbajabiamila, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a key ally of President Bola Tinubu, all but clearly stoked the fire by egging the Kogi lawmaker on to launch a fiercer onslaught against the Mark leadership.
Urging Abejide, who had sworn that he would do everything to ensure Tinubu’s re-election not to leave the ADC, through which he won his election to the National Assembly in 2023, but to stay back and fight rather than exiting the party, the ex-Speaker praised him for his resilience so far.
Abejide, who on his own, has thrown his weight behind Nafiu Bala, former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, now laying claims to Mark’s position was one of those sacked at the convention organised by the Mark group last week.
But Gbajabiamila, who used the Kogi lawmaker’s birthday celebration on Monday to announce his support publicly, while hailing his political trajectory and resilience, including winning his election under the ADC – a relatively less-fancied platform in 2023.
His words: “For a man to contest in a place like Kogi, under a relatively unknown party, and win back-to-back elections, it tells you who that man is. You did not only secure re-election but also helped expand the party’s influence by bringing in other candidates. You’re a committed party man and a fighter.
“My charge to you is to stay in that same party. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party. Do not abandon them. We like what you are doing. Hold on to your party. Do not abandon it. Continue what you are doing. Win your election there. Nobody can take your party away from you.”
After the hammer from the Mark group, alongside Kingsley Temitope, Obinna Norman, Kennedy Odiong, and Stella Chukwuma, over the allegation of anti-party activities, Abejide dismissed his sack as null and void, coming from a “suya convention.”
Jonathan to Atiku: I don’t play God *I still achieved, though imperfect
BREAKING: FG opts for open court trial of coup plotters against Tinubu
ADC: Fight, scatter them! *Presidency goads Kogi lawmaker on Mark’s leadership
-
News4 weeks agoGovernor weeps, as terrorists kill soldiers, police in night ambush
-
Columns2 weeks agoSeun Okinbaloye saga: How does Tinubu survive if Wike resigns?
-
Columns6 days agoAbike Dabiri: Did Obi raise a monster or you’re drunk on Tinubu’s poisoned chalice?
-
News2 weeks agoStop using Latin phrases, make clear, unambiguous orders – NBA tells courts
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Bloody day in Ibadan! *Trailer loses control, crushes residents!
-
News2 weeks agoNafiu Gombe: Yes, I have sponsors! *I can’t fight ADC big men alone!
-
Columns2 weeks agoCentus Nweze (JSC): Death of legal purist, irony of Nigerian judiciary
-
Columns3 days agoBe the hero that saved Nigeria! Open letter to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar