The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly leadership to step in and resolve the ongoing feud between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before it escalates into an international embarrassment.
The controversy began after a heated exchange over Senate seating arrangements, with Akpoti-Uduaghan later accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. In a statement released on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, NANS National Vice President, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, appealed for calm, urging both parties to set aside their differences in the interest of national unity.
NANS emphasized that the National Assembly should be a beacon of leadership and integrity, not a battleground for personal disputes. While noting that Akpoti-Uduaghan has yet to provide evidence to substantiate her claim, Akinbodunse warned that mishandling the situation could tarnish Nigeria’s image globally.
She urged Akpabio to extend an olive branch to his colleague, while also calling on Akpoti-Uduaghan to embrace dialogue for the greater good of the nation. Stressing that the Senate should focus on urgent economic and financial issues, NANS warned that if the matter is not swiftly resolved, students across the country may be forced to stage a protest at the National Assembly.
