Natasha/Akpabio Feud: Group fingers external plot to tarnish Nigeria’s image

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

The National Association for Scrap Artisans and Craft (NASAC) has said that, the ongoing feud between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is part of a larger external conspiracy to damage Nigeria’s reputation.

Speaking at a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Kaduna, NASAC’s National Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Ibrahim, also known as “Sarkin Yakin IBB,” defended Akpabio, describing him as a disciplined leader being unfairly targeted.

According to him, those supporting Senator Natasha’s claims are misguided. “I have known Senate President Akpabio for over 30 years. He is a man disciplined person who, if he sees a woman dressed indecently, would advise her to go and change her clothes,” he said.

He dismissed the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio, insisting that it was an attempt to malign his character.

“For someone I have known for decades to be accused of sexual harassment, if I remain silent, Allah will not forgive me. I know Akpabio well, and he knows me,” he added.

The NASAC chairman claimed that certain groups were working to tarnish Nigeria’s image globally by weaponizing the allegations against Akpabio.

“This issue is not just about Akpabio; it is an orchestrated attempt to damage the image of the country. They want to paint a picture that Nigerian women cannot succeed in politics unless they offer their bodies in exchange for positions,” he said.

According to him, Senator Natasha’s allegations send a damaging message to women in leadership.

“She is trying to prove that she is the first woman to challenge such an issue, but in doing so, she is disgracing herself and other Nigerian women. Are we saying that female ministers in this country attained their positions through such means?”

He further accused Natasha of attempting to destroy Akpabio’s reputation and create disaffection between him and his wife, as well as President Bola Tinubu.

“If we allow this narrative to stand, then tomorrow, any Nigerian leader can be discredited, including the President. This is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly,” he warned.

Alhaji Ibrahim also questioned Natasha’s recent public display of affection with her husband within the Senate Chamber, arguing that it was inappropriate.

“We all saw how she entered the National Assembly last week with her husband adjusting her clothes. They kissed right inside the chamber in front of her colleagues and the media. What was she trying to prove? Was it an attempt to frustrate Akpabio or to embarrass the nation?” he asked.

He maintained that Akpabio had always supported women and recalled a past incident where he facilitated the allocation of land for a mosque in Akwa Ibom during his tenure as governor.

“Years ago, when some senior northern leaders met with then-Governor Akpabio to request land for a mosque, he promised to allocate it the next day. True to his word, he fulfilled the promise, and today, there is a mosque built by A.A. Rano in Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom State. This is a man who loves Nigeria and its people,” he recounted.

Ibrahim ridiculed the claims that Akpabio harassed Natasha, stating: “Some are saying Akpabio is a ‘sexy man,’ but every man is sexy. However, in this case, I can swear with anything that Akpabio would never do such a thing.”

He expressed concern about the broader implications of the allegations.

“We are advocating for a female president in Nigeria. If that happens, will she also be kissing people in the chamber? This is a divisive agenda being pushed by external forces to destabilize Nigeria,” he alleged.

When asked about calls from various organizations demanding a proper investigation into the matter, Alhaji Ibrahim said he supported such a move but criticized Natasha’s approach.

“Akpabio is not against an investigation, but it should not be done with rudeness. Why did Natasha come boldly to the Senate with her husband? The Senate President was calm and received her complaint formally. But why did she kiss her husband in the chamber? Even as a Muslim, she should know better. Would the Christian community accept such an act?” he queried.

He concluded by calling on Nigerians to resist any attempt to use the issue to divide the country.