Women Affairs Minister Seeks Truce In Akpabio-Natasha Clash
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the recent clash between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling for reconciliation and urging all parties to work together for national unity.
Speaking to State House correspondents during a “meet the press” session at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the minister described the incident as “unfortunate” and stressed the importance of fostering harmony in the legislature, particularly given the decline in the number of female Senators from nine in the previous Assembly to just four in the current 10th Senate.
“We don’t want to be losing any member in the Senate or House of Assembly. We want to increase the numbers,” she stated.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim assured that her ministry would engage all relevant stakeholders to mediate and ensure a resolution, urging all parties involved to “temper justice with mercy.”
Recalling her visit to the Senate during the International Women’s Day commemoration, the minister noted that Senate President Akpabio had signaled his willingness to mend fences.
“The last thing the Senate President said was that ‘we’re open to broker peace.’ So, we are going to act as intermediaries between the two parties to see that peace reigns,” she said.
She further emphasized the need for continuous sensitization and collaboration between men and women in governance, underlining that unity is key to advancing national development.
