Betty Akeredolu, wife of the late former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has strongly criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for involving his wife in his ongoing dispute with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
She described the move as “highly disingenuous” and an attempt to evade responsibility.
In a post on her official X handle, Akeredolu condemned Akpabio’s handling of the controversy surrounding the reassignment of Senator Natasha’s seat without her consent.
She argued that in more advanced democracies, such a situation would have led to the resignation of the Senate President to clear his name rather than dragging his wife into the matter.
“In more civilized societies, Akpabio would have stepped down by now to defend himself. Instead, he has chosen to involve his wife in the battle, throwing her under the bus in the process. That’s an unfair strategy,” she stated.
Akeredolu emphasized that the reassignment of Natasha’s seat without her knowledge was a violation of her rights and a sign of disrespect.
She praised the senator for standing her ground, noting that while male lawmakers may have remained silent on similar issues in the past, Natasha’s boldness in speaking out deserves commendation.
“Some women are busy making baseless arguments, blaming Natasha for being emotional. That is completely beside the point! She has shown courage by voicing her frustration after enduring so much, and that’s exactly the kind of leadership we need more of in the National Assembly,” she added.
Akeredolu also drew attention to the poor representation of women in Nigeria’s Senate, highlighting that out of 109 senators, only four are female.
She called for greater support for women in politics, likening Natasha’s stand to that of Rosa Parks, who became a symbol of resistance against injustice.
“Nigerian women have been sidelined and silenced for too long. It’s a shame that out of 109 senators, only four are women. Natasha’s outburst has forced the country to take a closer look at what really happens in the National Assembly. We need more of her kind in the next election cycle,” she said.
Quoting Kenyan legislator Millie Odhiambo, she concluded: “Good girls don’t get corner offices.”
