Drama on the senate floor

DRAMA ON THE SENATE FLOOR  IN NIGERIA, NATION BUILDING &THE DANGER OF DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD  MISLEADING IMPRESSIONS  DISRESPECT FOR THE RULES  OF THE GAME IN SOCIETY- WHY I BELIEVE SENATOR  NATASHA IS WRONG- A PLEA  FOR PARDON/ LESSER PUNISHMENT

INTRODUCTION
On 4th March 2025,  there was high and embarrassing drama  on the floor  of the Senate over violation  of some rule  of the Senate by a Senator.  As  the public  came  to know  the Senate  has a rule  that  allows   a  Senator  to  be moved  from  one seat to another, and for   Members  to be assigned  or reassigned  to committees.  And some Senators have been suspended  previously  from  the  Senate.   And how they  returned  to the Senate  is inconsequential  to us herd.

It is not new. Before  the 4th  of March, some  Senators confirmed  that they had  been  moved  from one seat  to another,  and reassigned  from one committee to another.  There is a Senate Committee  on Ethics,  Privileges  and Public  Petition to look into  related matters.

A FATEFUL  DAY FOR  THE SENATE 
However on that fateful day of 4th  March 2025 something  strange or unusual  happened  on  the floor of the Senate.It was a  spectacle characterized  by flagrant disobedience  of lawful instruction  and violation  of the rule of the game by a  distinguished  Senator  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was a sad scene .It amounts  to a foul of the rule  of the game  as in football.  And for which  the whistle  must  be  blown for  correction in the general interest  of the game.

In administrative  terms  it is serious  act of misconduct  which  must  not go unpunished  to serve as deterrence  to others.  The Senate  must  be  protected. This  is why  l believe  that Senator  Natasha  is  wrong. She fouled some of   the Senate  rules  of  engagement.

BASIS  OF  OUR COMMENTS
Our comments  are  based on what  we saw  on the floor  of the Senate on the 4th of March 2025. it was a gory sight of insubordination , aggression  and fury by a Senator who  refused to obey  legitimate  instructions. It is a very  serious  offence  to disobey lawful order. She  maliced everything  in the Senate- authority, officials,  rules  and committee.

To be more specific  there are empirical  evidences  to show  that she broke the rules  of the Senate by not changing her seat as directed,  by speaking when not authorized  to do so  and by failing  to appear before  the Senate  Ethics  Committee. Her actions  were embarrassing  and capable  of putting the Senate  in dis-repute.

In a word, it was wrong for  Senator   Natasha to  refuse to carry  out lawful  instruction, to be confrontational  with  the authority, highly disrespectful to the  Senate  and its values and  very  unwise of her not to honor  the invitation  of the committee  on ethics that was even chaired by fellow member  of  opposition  group. Her actions  were not not right,  just and  wise.

SIX MONTH  SUSPENSION IS TOO MUCH- PLEA FOR  REVIEW
Expectedly the  Senate felt insulted and rubbished. It decided  to apply its rules to correct  the violator of its rules.The faulty  steps  taken by the Senator perhaps as result of anger  and  inexperience  on such  matters and her supporters  in the social  media informed  by some “ism” are to blame.  They turned what was  obviously a very  minor  offence  into  big case of gross misconduct.The result has been a six month   suspension of the Senator from  the Senate for misconduct-a punishment  I believe  is far  out of proportion to the sin or offence.

PURPOSE  OF ESSAY
This piece  believes in the rule  of Law and respect  for  the  rules of a game as basis  of the orderly conduct of affairs, success of a game,development and progress  of society. Based on the events  or drama that happened on the floor  of the Senate  on 4th March 2025,  Senator Natasha  gravely disrespected  the Senate  rules . She deserves  to be punished , and has been suspended from the Senate  for six months.  She should  apologize .

The purpose  of this  essay  is to plead with the Senate  to review  the case and grant  her pardon  or far  lesser  punishment especially  because  of  members  of her Constituency. Effective consequence management  is necessary  on such matters for behavior correction  and deterrence  purposes.

While empirical evidence on the 4th March 2025  shows that Senator Natasha  deserves  punishment for misconduct,  however  a six-month suspension  is too harsh  and highly disproportionate.  I urge  Senator  Natasha  to  apologize to thee Senate  and Colleagues. The whole  is bigger  and stronger  anyone  of its parts. The Senate should  kindly accept  her apology. She is free to pursue  her  allegation  of sex harrassment  at the court  of justice  or family  level.

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WHY   I BELIEVE SENATOR NATASHA IS WRONG

WRONG  TO DISRESPECT  SENATE  RULE  – A TREE DOES NOT MAKE A FOREST
As already stated  for many  reasons,  this piece  believes  that Senator  Natasha was wrong  to disrespect  the Senate  rules  on the 4th  of March 2025. She should  apologize  to the Senate .A tree no matter  how tall does not constitute  a forest.

Evidences  at our disposal  suggest a case of  gross  misconduct unbecoming  of distinguished  Senator. Days of  aggressive  advocacy  for a pet project  are over.  She is  wearing  a new gown  of honor, a revered title  and high  status, an elected member of the highest  Law Making  Body  of the country.
The transition from there to here may not be  easy.  But she must  realize  the truth  that the younger  days  of activism and  sloganizing are over with  her election   to the Senate  with its rigid arrangements.  She chose to be a Senator.  She must therefore  learn  to abide by its rules  and regulations. The ROYAL STOOL  must  be collectively  protected  for the good health of the society.
The piece stresses the importance of  the rule  of law and respect  for the rules  of the game for purpose  of  instill discipline, fairness efficiency,  effectiveness  and progress of society. It speaks to the dangers of deliberate  falsehood, misleading impression  and disrespect for the rules  of the game.

The Senate has powers  to make laws,  rules  and standing  orders  for the good  administration  of the country  and effective conduct of  its  affairs. Their  disobedience  can only  bring  failure  or bad results for the institution  and society  at large. Every good  citizen  has a responsibility  to obey the law and  respect  the rules  of the game   in the interest of  society.

ROYAL , DEMOCRATIC  STOOL
Generally there  is need to protect  the ROYAL STOOL  for  the collective  good  of  the country  so that  there  will  be viable  institutions  such as the Senate,  and it’s  Senators,  good  governance, stability and progress of country. The paper  advises   Senator  Natasha to  take  things cool and  be respectful  of law, order and  constituted and  constituted authority. Her mistake was  largely  due to  inexperience and  poor anger management. They  turned  an otherwise  simple  matter into a serious, complicated  one  of embarrassing  assault  on the entire Senate – the highest  law  making  body  in the country.

ALSO READ: Disquiet as Senate breaches Order 67(4), legislative rule Section 21(2) on suspension of Natasha

It is important  to stress the point  that  properly understood,  what  happened  on the floor  of the Senate  was  basically a conflict between  the Senate  and a  member and not a  between the Senate president and a Senator.  This division is important  for two  reasons  here.

Firstly, it is to enable  this paper to urge Senator Natasha  to make genuine  efforts  to reconcile  with  her colleague, take the  right  steps to reach out  to  them for  peace ,and return to her seat  in  the Senate with malice to none.

Secondly,  it is to enable  me  advise  that Senator  Natasha  could  seek  justice for her allegation of sex harrassment  against  the Senate  outside  of the  National Assembly – say in the  court of law  or family  meeting. In my  view  the  Senate  might  not have  the resources  to do a thorough  job to the satisfaction  of all parties.

At all times  it should  always  be realized   that the whole  is normally  bigger  and stronger  than  any of its parts.  Like  it or not, she is now a distinguished  Senator  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  and   beautiful  part of the Senate  that crafted the current senate rules. Consequently  society  expects  certain standard codes of conduct  to  observed  especially  inside  the  hallowed Senate Chambers.

BACKGROUND TO COMMENT AND OBSERVATION
As already indicated, the  comments  on issues  in this piece  are based on what  happened  on the Senate the floor on the 4th of March 2025. What I saw  made me believe  Senator  Natasha is wrong. Our  observation  is that two issues  are involved here. One  of them happened  within  the walls of the Senate Chamber on day one. On day  two, we saw and heard  of Senator  Natasha’s  allegation of Sexual  harassment  against  the Senate  President Godwill Akpabio.  The latter probably happened outside  the Senate  Chamber. And the charge  was thrown  away  on technical  grounds. Senator Natasha  failed  to honor  the  invitation  of Senate  Committee  on Ethics…before  it. She had made  it clear earlier  that she would  not appear  before  the committee unless  the Press was in attendance.  I consider  her absence  unwise.

I watched  Day  one show in the Senate on the  Tv.  I did not  watch  the scene of the alleged  sexual  harassment  but only heard  of it the next day after  the row in the Senate  Chamber. As observed  earlier,  what  I saw  was a clear  case of insubordination  and disrespect  for Senate  rules,  practice  and values  by a Senator in the Senate  Chamber.

This is what  I would  like  to call Senate  versus  Senator  Natasha palaver.  It was a case of serious misconduct  which must  not go unpunished  if we must  maintain  the sanctity  of that Chamber.  It was a deliberate assault  on the stool .
To recall it was a gory sight of insubordination , aggression, hatred and fury by a Senator. She  maliced everything  in the Senate- authority, officials,  rules  and committee.

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Thereafter she  came up  with  allegation  of of sexual  harassment  against  the Senate President, who had denied  the charge and hinting  that trouble  came only  after administrative changes were made on seats  and committee  assignments. He points to  conspiracy  theories aimed  at unsealing him as Senate  President.

The piece  explores  these and other  sundry  issues  for their  relevance.  It considers  the allegation  of Sexual arassment  against  the  Senate  President  as weighty  and cannot   be dismissed  with the wave of the hand. It is delicate and needs to  be handled  with  care  for justice to be seen to have been done.

There had been  accusations  and denials and conspiracy  theories that need to be explored dispassionately. While  the autonomy or Independence of the Senate  to make its rules and enforce  them is not in doubt  however it cannot  be left to deal with  the  sexual  harassment issue.

For instance its handling  of the matter will  not take  us far convincingly on the path of justice. Such cases  normally  take far longer  time than imagined  to resolve, than the Senate  would  have for  such matter. And I do not support passing  the bulk on assumptions   not examined  through  necessary  investigations.

For me justice must be seen  to have  been done. Towards  this end, this  paper  advises  that the alleged  case of sexual harrassment  be  sent to the courts  of justice  or be  resolved outside  of the the Chamber of the Senate- say at family  level.

The piece  observes  uncomfortable  silence by the public on misconduct,  misfocus  and  failure to speak  truth  to the wrongness of the actions  of a Senator who disobeyed  lawful instruction on the Senate floor and calls for change of attitude.It also  notes the failure  to appreciate  the inherent danger and related adverse implications  of  the  subtle approval  of the   wrong impression  created  in some quarters  that some people are above the law, untouchable and do not need to  obey  law,  respect  constituted  authority  and rules  of the game unless convenient to them..This is detrimental to  our collective  interest,  unacceptable and thus  should be rejected.

The paper   notes that the disregard  for the rule of  law,and disrespect  for for the rules of the game  have been the  bane of development in Nigeria. Unfortunately this was  the direction  of the “unsenately ”  behavior  of Senator Natasha. It concludes by stressing  the importance  of respecting the rule of the game in order  to allow  for orderliness, efficiency,  harmony  and progress  of society.

PROBLEM OF DELIBERATE  FALSEHOOD,  MISLEADING IMPRESSIONS,  FEMINISM  AND EMOTIONS  OF BEAUTY
Instead  of addressing the embarrassing conduct on Senate floor  by a Senator which was largely  due to poor Anger management and inexperience , there  had  been  attempts to divert attention  away  from  the truth. For this reason  there had emerged  deliberate  falsehood, misleading  impression,  lies, sentiment  of Feminism and emotion  of beauty. It is observed  that most  of the reactions  especially  from  the Women’s  groups are  largely informed  by  spirits  and influence  of Feminism, memories  of the Beijing  Conference and the scent, fragrance  and sentiment  of Beauty with  its jezebelic charming  effects on most of  the beholders.

To cloak  the truth, the  lie  has been peddled  at home  and abroad  of “Senate  brutal  attack  on Senator  Natasha , women’s Human  Rights,  to discourage  women  from  political  participation.  For  same the world has been invited to do justice, reverse  the suspension  and punish the perpetrators of the act-The NigerianVoice March 9 2025.

While empirical  evidences  point to them as falsehood  or sheer  propaganda  to win undue  sympathy  and support for  untruth.

To create  doubt some have  said  that the Senate  lacks power  to make  its rules  let alone  to enforce  them or punish  an erring  member. This is misleading. The Senate  has the power  to make  its  rules,  has its rules  and can enforce them  within  the context  of the Constitution.

To pervert  justice  some have  lumped or collapsed the  two cases  of misconduct  and alleged  sexual harassment against  the Senate into  one. Such  collapse  would  not be helpful. It should  be recalled  that  misconduct  happened  on the Senate floor  without  any evidence  of sexual  harassment.

The latter  was  presented  the next day  but was thrown  out  on technical  grounds. In a manner  of lying  they say  one is  the cause of  the other even as it should  be obvious that they  are different.

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Today  we are hearing  of Conspiracy theories to remove  Akpabio from office  for applying  the  rule  law. And some have  observed  since some people  were not  punished  in the past  there was no need  punishing  anyone today. While there is nothing  wrong  with  correcting what is wrong  no matter  how  long, there are threat of nation-wide  protests by some women  groups .

We can  go on and on citing  disturbing signs aimed  at supporting  misdeeds, but it suffices  to note  it is not  the right  things  to do in the national  interest. It is sad  therefore that we  are not honestly talking  about the wrongness  and inappropriateteness of the actions  of  a Senator  who broke the rules  of the Senate by refusing to carry  out a lawful instruction.

To recall  she refused  to move from  one seat to another seat, was   speaking when not authorized to do so and shunning the invitation  by a standing Senate Committ^ee on Ethics… to appear  before  it unless  on her own terms.   These are serious  administrative  breaches  that should  not be ignored but being  ignored  by  supporters  of Senator  Natasha.  Other deeper values  traceable  to Feminism  and Beijing  Conference were at work  and  are worthy  of our  review  here. Together  they  constitute the nation’s  road to perdition.

SOCIAL  MEDIA  WAR AGAINST  OPPOSING  VIEWS AND DANGER  OF OF SUPPORTING  THE WRONG & UGLY
An important but unhealthy  development since  the embarrassing incident  of 4th December 2025 is social media  war against anyone who was  not totally in support  of Senator Natasha’s  action by her supporters.  This is dangerous. And the purpose  is to justify  a bad conduct by   divertingn attention  from  the real  problem  of the day.

Thanks to the misuse  of the power of the social  media, rebuff  was the  treatment  given  to the  sincere  offering  of Senator Ireti  Kingibe for urging her colleague to comply with  rules and regulations of the Senate & to  Senator Florence Ita- Giwa for her  wise counsel on behavior management.

Though  they were  derided by some people  of the feminist variety,  yet they  were correct  in their  assessment  and  advice. I would  urge  Senator  Natasha  to listen  to them. There is danger  in supporting  blindly what is obviously  wrong  and ugly. The blind support of the wrongness  and ugliness  of  Natasha’s action on day one by some people  especially in the social  media,is abnormal and should  be discouraged.  She was  not a victim of  male  chauvinism  but her own  anger, inexperience and ideological orientation.

While  rules violation  has been the bane  of the country’s progress, the  utter  failure by Natasha’s supporters  to appreciate  the harmful effect  of  a Senator’s  woeful violation  of the rule of the game on the Senate in particular  and the entire  country  at large should be a great  cause  for concern.  She was the aggressor  that  day  for reasons  best  known  to her. It was disturbing.

Rather than being  concerned,  that  attitude  of her supporters  has created the misleading  impression that    what  “is  good for  the goose”  is no longer “good for the gander.” It  is wrong  and dangerous to be pushing  the idea   that  there was  nothing  wrong  with disobeying legitimate  instructions, laws, rules and order of the Senate.

It is the recipe for anarchy and  peril of our society. And  no matter  the deodorization  it is  no less  dangerous  for  us to encourage  the  idea  that  some women  or citizens are only to obey the  laws that are convenient to them only, or hell would be let lose in Nigeria. The constitution  did not  provide  for it.

Senator  Natasha  must  be persuaded  to change her present mind-set informed  by ideas of war and self  righteousness.  This could be gleaned  from  her conversations  with  some Senators  and her presentation  at the UN in New  York. According  to Senators  who  spoke  to her she said  she  did not  start  “the fight” and was  not “wrong” . In otherwords  she was right  to declare war on  the Senate  and to violate its rules . No it is not a war thing but respect  for the Senate  rules  so that  good  laws can be made for  the country.

At the UN, one sees  a classical  case of deliberate  misrepresentation  of issues  to win support -what a Senator calls “deliberate misinformation”.Completely silent  on  charges  of gross misconduct on the  floor  of the Senate  on the 4th  of March 2025, she  claimed  that she was suspended  because   of “a petition  for sexual  harassment  against  against  the President  of  the Nigerian  Senate” .

And that her case “depicts the crisis  of women’s  political  representation…her suspension “is about  the systemic exclusion  of women from  political  leadership  in Nigeria” She expressed  worry  about  her security. CHANNEL  TV March 2025. I advise  that she should  not  be arrested  on  return  home.

However  according  to he colleagues  in the Senate  she was “suspended for gross misconduct and unruly  behavior… persistent act of misconduct  and disregard  for the Senate  Standing  Orders and not as a result  of allegations  of sexual harrassment or assault”. They dismissed  her case – presentation at the UN as “deliberate  misinformation”(kafilat Ogbara).

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Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,

Hell hath no fury  like a woman  scorned…

William  Congreve- Mourning   Bride 1697

All propaganda,  no facts. Distortion  of historical  account, Misrepresentation  of issues, No patriotism. Anger, Vengeance. Truly it seems correct here  that:”Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned,..Hell hath no fury  like a woman  scorned”

William  Congreve- Mourning   Bride 1697

This is the kind of feeling we  get  from the war songs  of supporters  of Senator  Natasha especially the  women  groups that  were reported to be  threatening fire and brimstone and pushing for  a nation- wide protest action against  the Senate. Why?  What for? Are they  saying laws should not  be obeyed  in Nigeria or the Senate should not function? Nationwide  strike  is unnecessary.  They  should  think twice  before embarking on a very  disastrous  path that  comes with  social  and political  instability of society.

DANGER  OF DISRESPECTING  RULES  OF THE GAME
There are many reasons for  respecting the rule  of  law  in society and the rules  of  the game in organizations. One of them  is to  ensure fair  and equal  treatment,  orderliness, efficiency  and effectiveness, maintain  standards  of operations and conducive  atmosphere  to play,  operate  and enjoy  the game. It prevents  rowdiness  and avert the evil and big danger of breaking  the rule of the game.

For  instance, it can  ruin the beauty  and joy of the game, wastes time, destroy  trust,  faith and create chaos  and eventual fall of the  organization or spoiling of the game.  It could  lead  to arbitrary action,  mob rule,  anarchy,  undue favoritism,  the entire  society  will be in great  trouble  with  the risk  of descending  into anarchy.

Everyone  would  be endangered. In a word, Rules are made for the common good of all the citizens, stake holders  etc for the orderly  conduct  and smooth  running of  society  and its organizations. It is to preserve  the sanctity and integrity  of institutions  or games. Without  such respect there may  be no Senate or even  government.

Society  will become  nasty  and the game  will become  rowdy, unsafe, uninteresting  and meaninglessThat is why  the ROYAL STOOL must  be protected by obeying its laws,  rules  and regulations. That is why  we must  not only  have laws, rules, regulations and codes  of conduct, also we must observe  them for the hygiene  of society. Otherwise the entire  society  will be in great  trouble  with  the risk  of descending  into anarchy.

Senator  Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan  is undoubtedly a beautiful Lady ,endowed highly  by God with beauty, brains, wealth, courage  and guts – qualities  that  actually combined to get her a seat  in  the Senate.  I admire  her courage for surviving  in a political  forest  that was roared by the white Lion from Okene- then Governor  whose words were the law in Kogi. As a member  of 10 th National  Assembly, she by implication  contributed to the making of the  current  Senate  rules   which  she disrespected  early in March  this year. She  should  repent by  respecting  the Senate  rules and play  by the rules of the game

In a word,  there has to be  respect  for the rule  of law  for  the beautiful one to be able  to exhibit her beauty to the joy of society.And  for all others- the rich, talented, ugly  and poor to live in peace  and harmony without  the  fear of the rascal,  the criminal, the very  strong  and wicked taking  the liberty  of lawlessness  to disfigure  the beauty,   disposess the rich and kill others – the  talented, ugly  and the  poor at will  just for  the fun of it. And  for the nation to grow  in health  and prosperity.

This requires  lessons  in in Behavior  and Behavioral  Management.  Behavior management  is about “doing those things that make people behave in a particular way” .Generally, it  is aimed at “motivating and guiding  people to act or behave  in certain  way that is believed to be positive in a particular setting” .So there is a goal  to be met, expectations  to be fulfilled. We  are disappointed  that   Senator Natasha  disrespected  the Senate  rules  on the day  under  reference.

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