President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should intervene in the face-off between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a policy think tank under the aegis of the National Transformational Initiative for Reconciliation and Forgiveness Advocacy has said.
The President, it said, should invite both parties for dialogue, towards ensuring a truce is reached.
The organisation said that while the misunderstanding between previously perceived two family friends is unnecessarily gathering steam, “certain elements are feeding fat from the fallouts”, hence adding fuel to the inferno, which is why the situation calls for prompt and decisive action to stamp it out.
While describing the situation as needless and avoidable, the organisation expressed concern over the increasing tension from the internal crisis in the Senate, saying it has been blown out of proportion and now attracting global attention.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the organisation, Yusuf Ibrahim, said although the Senate as an Institution has the constitutional powers to regulate its own conduct and affairs through its Standing Orders and Rules, the President can intervene to salvage the country’s image.
He lamented that a mere reshuffling of sitting arrangements has turned into a national controversy which has resulted to various allegations and political scheming.
Ibrahim maintained that the Senate as an institution must be protected from political misadventures and elements who detest the nation’s wellbeing.
He also warned that the continued discord in the Upper Chamber could erode Nigeria’s hard-earned reputation, stressing the need for the President to swiftly initiate a political solution to resolve the matter.
Ibrahim said, “The Nigerian Senate occupies an enviable position as the highest Legislative Body in the Country and in democratic nuances, every Senator is addressed as distinguished as hallmark of personality values, hence commands huge respect.
“In this guise, the institution must be protected from the vagaries of political misadventures and surreptitious scheming from any quarters, more so from elements who detest our wellbeing.
“It is in the light of the monumental damage being done to our image as a people, that informed our decision to call on Mr. President to wade into the matter and save our dear Country from further bartering of image in the global arena.”
According to him, Nigeria is a nation of well cultured people who accord women due respect and dignity.
Ibrahim said, “Nigerians deserve to be accepted and accorded respect and given due dignity wherever they reside and that can only manifest when we Jealously guard and protect the sanctity of our image effectively.
“The tirades spewing from various quarters over this sad development can only worsen the brewing discord, which some insidious people are already using to heat up the polity in the guise of protests and political scheming.
“Sir, the situation calls for a proactive strategy to douse the heightening tension being generated by stepping into the matter, which we believe that both parties will need your wise counsel, on mitigating the issues involved.
“We as Nigerians are a family and disagreements exist everywhere in families, yet they mend fences to move on.
“We affirm faith that Nigeria, under Mr. President watch, will experience peaceful reign, progress, and tangible indices of development, towards emerging as an indivisible buoyant economic hub, such lofty aspirations in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda, are hinged on our ability to dispassionately nip in the bud any tendentious happenstance rearing it’s
head, timely.
“The parties at the centre of this unwarranted debacle are mature members of the society with influence and followerships as well, none will toy with an opportunity to put this melodrama behind us.
“It is common knowledge that while the misunderstanding between previously perceived two family friends is unnecessarily gathering steam, certain elements are feeding fat from the fallouts, hence adding fuel to the inferno, which is why the situation calls for prompt and decisive action to stamp it out.
“Nigeria as the giant of Africa, must strive to always live up to that huge responsibility that God Almighty placed on us. By allowing this melodrama to continue unchecked, is seriously hurting our image and taking untold effect on the psyche of Nigerians, especially those in the Diaspora, who bear the brunt of cajoling, ridicule , mockery an other forms of indignity over our seeming hesitation to nip such in the bud.
“It is in the light of the disturbing points fore-going, that we find it inescapable to plead with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to despite his tight schedule, invite both parties for dialogue, towards ensuring a truce is reached and save our dear beloved country’ image from further battering, ridicule and inglorious charade in the public glare.”
