The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has encouraged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to be focused and committed to providing legislative interventions to Nigerians.
The CSOs, led by Lary Onah, Executive Director of the Stay Alert Human Rights Awareness Initiative, issued the advice in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Onah also gave Akpabio a vote of confidence, characterizing his tenure as president of the 10th Senate as influential and gender-friendly.
He stated that despite baseless charges of sexual harassment, which Akpabio denied making, Nigerians and parliamentarians trusted him to navigate the difficulties of governing.
He labeled the claim as a distraction intended to undermine democracy and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“We praise the senate president for his professionalism in the manner he conducted himself in the plenary during the altercation by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over the seating arrangement.
“Natasha is wrong to go against the rules of the senate over seating arrangements.
“She should apologize for her wrong conduct and withdraw her petition of sexual harassment against the most performing senate president of Nigeria.
“The accusation is only meant to distract the Senate from applying sanctions on her and coerce the leadership to always do her bidding,” he said.
He urged Akpabio to focus on his duties for the good of Nigerians and the nation’s prosperity, rather than being distracted by “cheap blackmail.”
He also stated that CSOs are organizing a solidarity march in support of the Senate President and country leadership.
