By Frank Obiside
In politics, strong disagreements are expected, However, when a politician consistently resorts to baseless accusations, blackmail, and character assassination, it becomes imperative to scrutinize the pattern of behavior.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s latest attack on Senator Florence Ita-Giwa is yet another example of her toxic political style—one defined by paranoia, desperation, and an inability to engage in civil discourse.Senator Ita-Giwa recently made a statement condemning the trend of making baseless accusations against men in politics, noting that it is a “sign of weakness” to use unverified allegations as a weapon.
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This triggered an outburst from Akpoti-Uduaghan, who immediately launched a personal attack on the distinguished senator. Instead of responding with logic and reason, she resorted to threats, stating that she would “choke” the Senate with issues they would “hate.”Worse still, in her usual manner, she dug up long-debunked tabloid gossip about Ita-Giwa from 15 years ago, attempting to smear her character. The same tactics she used against Senate President Godswill Akpabio—false accusations, media manipulation, and blackmail—are now being deployed against Ita-Giwa. The message is clear: anyone who disagrees with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must be personally destroyed.It is no longer surprising that Akpoti-Uduaghan has made a name for herself by crying wolf whenever it suits her agenda.
She falsely accused the Senate President of making inappropriate advances, an allegation that was met with resounding rejection from those who know Akpabio’s character. Now, her aggressive response to Ita-Giwa suggests one thing: had the distinguished senator been a man, she too would have been accused of sexual harassment.This is a dangerous precedent.
It is one thing to stand up for women’s rights, but it is entirely different to weaponize false accusations for political gain. Such behavior undermines real victims of harassment while creating a culture of fear in which male colleagues must walk on eggshells around female politicians who might, at any moment, turn disagreements into baseless allegations.Ironically, for someone who claims to fight for women’s rights, Akpoti-Uduaghan has no problem tearing down another woman when it serves her purpose. Ita-Giwa is a respected stateswoman with decades of service to Nigeria. She does not deserve to be dragged into the gutter of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s blackmail politics simply for expressing an opinion.Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behavior reveals a disturbing mindset—one in which she sees every challenge to her as an attack that must be met with scorched-earth tactics. This is not the temperament of a leader but of a political opportunist willing to do anything to maintain relevance.
The Nigerian Senate must not allow itself to be held hostage by a senator who sees blackmail and false accusations as legitimate tools of engagement. Akpoti-Uduaghan made it clear that she will spend the next two years launching baseless attacks on her colleagues rather than engaging in meaningful legislative work.
This is a distraction from governance, and Nigerians should take note of who is truly working and who is merely chasing controversy.Her repeated pattern of behavior should serve as a warning: today, it is Akpabio and Ita-Giwa; tomorrow, it will be someone else. If her reckless accusations are allowed to stand unchallenged, it will only embolden her to continue using deceit as a political weapon.ConclusionSenator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s latest attack on Senator Florence Ita-Giwa is proof that she is incapable of handling disagreement with maturity.
Instead of engaging in respectful debate, she resorts to threats, intimidation, and the regurgitation of old, discredited tabloid gossip. This is the same pattern she followed against the Senate President, and now she has turned her sights on another respected figure.The Senate needs persons who can engage in robust debate without resorting to lies and blackmail.
The Senate must not allow its dignity to be dragged through the mud by a senator whose only strategy is destruction. The question Nigerians must ask is: if she can lie so brazenly today, what else is she willing to fabricate in the future?
Frank Obiside, a political analyst writes from Abakiliki