Stakeholders from the six states of the Niger Delta region on Friday slammed Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over her outburst against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement signed by Comrade Alice Omo-Ovie, leader of the Niger Delta Mothers for Good Governance, the stakeholders, comprising leaders of youth groups and women organisations, described Natasha’s conduct as “unwomanly” and a disgrace to her constituents.

They also dismissed as “frivolous” the alleged claims of sexual harassment levelled against Akpabio by Natasha as reason for the outburst, which occurred during plenary on Thursday.

Accusing Natasha of uncontrolled pride, the Niger Delta stakeholders described the Kogi senator’s action as disrespectful.

“It is a taboo that a woman should have such impetus to disregard and insult a man not to talk of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“First, we call on the husband of Senator Natasha, who is also the Alema of Warri, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, to tender an unreserved apology to the Senate.

“The display of the wife and senator showed a disgraceful and unreined display against the men folk in Kogi, Delta and the entire Niger Delta region,” Omo-Ovie said.

Omo-Ovie, who is the coordinator of the Niger Delta Mothers for Good Governance, said Natasha should tender an apology.

“She should tender unreserved apology to our father and leader, senator Akpabio.

“Though many accepted it during the time of former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, the women of the Niger Delta will not accept the open display of disrespectful attitude towards their own, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.”

She described the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President by Natasha as a “defeatist ploy to bring to disrepute Senator Godswill Akpabio’s sterling reputation as a senator”.

“We, the women of the Niger Delta region find the allegations as frivolous, a lie and a ploy by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to sway the Senate committee from investigating reasons for a shameful display and avoid disciplinary measures.

“Why didn’t she report such frivolous allegations before now? It is a deliberate campaign of calumny against the Senate President.”

Also speaking, President of the Niger Delta Women for Tinubu, Mrs Faith Adaga Timisetei, cautioned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from making statements and claims that will further rubbish her as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio has shown charismatic leadership and has added to his antecedents as a leader from the Niger Delta region, Natasha and her sponsors should retrace their steps and ask her to apologise and allow the matter rest.

“If the investigative digging starts, images will be shattered and marriages may become a mirage,” Timisetei warned.