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The controversy over the recent outburst by Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is yet to settle as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the Kogi State governorship election, Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, has come under fire for calling for the removal of Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the incident.

Ajaka had, in his reaction to the incident, accused Akpabio of constantly bullying Natasha, and called on the senators to take a decisive action by replacing him with a competent leader.

A civil society organization, the Citizens Network For Peace and Development, CNPD, which tackled Ajaka over the development in a statement on Tuesday, also condemned Natasha’s outburst and the subsequent media interviews she granted on the issue.

CNPD said Akpabio was only enforcing the rules of the Senate and wondered why Ajaka, who seeks to be the governor of a state, should support lawlessness.

“We are using this medium to totally condemn the reckless statement credited to Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP in the last Kogi State gubernatorial election, calling for the removal of Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate, for maintaining parliamentary decorum and enforcing the rules of the Senate, to protect the ethical integrity of the Senate.

“It is very disheartening to note that someone who is aspiring to be governor of a state will be supporting such disrespectful and unruly behaviour because she is from same state with him.

“Anyone who truly aspires to be a leader for the betterment of the masses should hold in high esteem, the tenets of objectivity and due process. Such flippant and reckless statements shouldn’t be coming from someone aspiring for such highly exalted and important office.

“Alhaji Ajaka should make efforts to learn about parliamentary decorum, constitutionalism and the rules of the Senate to enable him to be better educated and informed on the current happenings in the Senate. Such education will also enable him to properly advise Sen. Natasha to conduct herself in a manner befitting of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Executive Director of the Network, Barr. Francis Okereke Wainwei, said in the statement.

CNPD also urged Natasha to concentrate on her duties as a lawmaker.

“We are therefore calling on her to focus on her legislative duties of lawmaking, oversight functions and representation; ensuring that the interests of her constituents are protected and promoted.

“She should refrain from engaging in activities that may be perceived as distractions or detrimental to the Senate’s image and the nation’s progress.

“This call is premised on the fact that the recent inappropriate behaviour of Sen. Natasha in the hallowed chamber of the Senate shows clearly that she has lost focus on her legislative duties and has turned herself to be a distraction to the Senate and the Nigerian people.”

The group, in the same vein, urged Akpabio and Nigerians not to be distracted by the incident.

“He should continue to maintain the highest standard of parliamentary decorum and protect the ethical integrity of the Senate.

“Nigerians shouldn’t be distracted by the shenanigans and mischievous activities of the few elements bent on pulling down the Senate President in order to use the National Assembly to fight President Bola Tinubu, for their selfish interests.”