President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has blamed the furore generated by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi State Central Senatorial District on what he called “lack of orientation.”
Senator Akpabio, who referred Natasha’s case to the Senate’s Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition, therefore, ordered the National Assembly management to immediately commence periodic orientation training for senators, especially the midstream Senators.
The Senate President said that Senator Natasha wanted to speak at the session of the senate the very first day she took her seat and was allowed to speak against the rule just to make her happy.
“Even the first time our distinguished sister came in, she was not even speaking from her seat and that’s when we tried to call her to order.
“I think what happen is that when they (new senators) came in, they missed orientation, especially those who came midstream.”
Senator Akpabio stressed that on the very day Natasha was sworn-in, she raised her hand to speak.
“I was scared, but I had to recognise her because we just gave her the rule book. Part of what we gave in that book is the Standing Order of the senate. She had not even opened the book to know what to say.
“She made contribution that day and two days later, she brought a motion.”
The Senate President admitted that there’s nothing wrong in being vibrant as Senator Natasha wanted to show but that everything is wrong “if you don’t know about the procedures.”
