Controversy trails the exclusion of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Nigeria’s delegation to the UN Women's Conference in New York.
A fresh crisis is brewing in the Nigerian Senate over the delegation list for a major global event.
The controversy centres on the exclusion of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the trip to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
The conference is set to begin on March 9. Surprisingly, the Kogi Central Senator did not make the official list, despite earlier indications that she would attend.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, is at the heart of the matter. She had previously vowed to boycott the event if her colleague was left behind. She made this bold declaration during a budget presentation to show solidarity.
.jpeg)
However, the narrative has since changed. In a recent letter, Kingibe confirmed that only two senators were nominated by the Senate President. The slots were given to herself and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, who is male.
This development has raised eyebrows. A leaked WhatsApp message from an aide had earlier requested Akpoti-Uduaghan’s passport details for the trip. This suggests she was initially penciled in for the journey before being dropped.
Many critics are questioning the rationale behind sending a male senator to a women-focused conference. With few female senators in the National Assembly, the decision has sparked a debate on representation.
For now, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been advised to attend independently if she possesses a valid US visa.
%20(8)_1771950895.jpeg)
0 Comments