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Women leaders across the Niger Delta region on Monday issued a one-month ultimatum to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to resign from the hallowed chamber over his controversial ‘holiday enjoyment’ utterances.
This was even as they vowed to mobilize over one million Niger Delta women to a massive protest at the National Assembly on September 26 if their demand is not met.
The development is coming barely two weeks after Akpabio announced to his colleagues at the Senate that money was sent to their accounts for them to “enjoy” their annual recess.
He had said, “In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mail boxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
His comment had generated heated debate and criticisms from Nigerians, with many berating the senators for being insensitive at a time the masses are still struggling to adjust to the removal of fuel subsidy.
A statement issued by the National President of Niger Delta Women League, Sheila Tamuno, on Monday however called for the immediate resignation of Akpabio for allegedly ‘desecrating the hallowed chambers by adding insults to the economic injuries of the average Nigerian man on the streets.’
The statement reads, “We call on Senator Godswill Akpabio to honourably resign his position as President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and drop the gavel with immediate effect. We also call on distinguished senators to stand up for the masses and vote Akpabio out should he not agree to toe the path of honor by resigning his office.
“For a man like Akpabio that comes with so much baggage to the hallowed chambers, we ordinarily would have expected him to take a break from his chequered past. We shall be mobilizing one million Niger Delta Women on September 26, 2023 to the gate of the National Assembly to either thank the Senate or pressure them to do the needful.
“As we continue to groan under the fangs of the current economic woes where families can no longer afford two square meals, skyrocketing cost of transportation, good health care services and bludgeoning electricity tariffs, we will not sit down and watch Akpabio sniff out the minutest hope of life through his unguarded acts of impunity and indiscretion. A stitch in time saves nine.”
