Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About Time Africa Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » Interviews » Exclusive Interview: Senator Ned Nwoko On The Senate Vs. Senator Natasha Matter

Exclusive Interview: Senator Ned Nwoko On The Senate Vs. Senator Natasha Matter

March 16, 2025
in Interviews
0
552
SHARES
4.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a candid and revealing conversation, Senator (Prince) Ned Munir Nwoko, Senator, Delta North, addresses the controversy surrounding the Senate’s recent actions involving Senator Natasha. He provides a comprehensive response to the allegations, clarifying his position and offering insights into the broader implications of the matter on the political landscape. Reads:

Defending the Senate’s Integrity Against Emotional Manipulation and Misrepresentation

Distinguished Nigerians, it is important that we separate facts from sensationalism and resist the growing trend of exploiting gender sentiments to mask disorderly conduct within the Senate. The legislative chamber is not a battleground for personal grievances or emotional outbursts but a place of order, debate, and democratic principles.

The recent outcry over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been twisted into a false narrative of victimization and suppression. Let it be clear: what was before the Senate was not her petition—something she herself has confirmed—but her conduct on the Senate floor, which violated the decorum expected of lawmakers.

ReadAlso

Delta North Survey Group Rejects Senator Nwoko’s Response as Empty and Irrelevant

Betrayed by Silence: The Fallout from Senator Nwoko’s Neglect of His Supporters

“Seat Reallocation Is a Standard Senate Practice”

ADVERTISEMENT

The issue started with a simple matter—seat reallocation. This is a normal and longstanding practice in the Senate. I have personally been moved three times.

Here’s how it works: Whenever a senator leaves for any reason—whether due to death, defection, or other circumstances—there is an adjustment in the seating arrangement. This happens across both party lines, and it is not targeted at any individual. The idea is to ensure that seats are properly arranged based on seniority, party balance, and Senate rules.

For instance, a ranking senator sits in the front row. If that senator leaves, a new member cannot just take that seat. Instead, everyone shifts accordingly. It is a process where multiple senators move to achieve the right balance.

Everybody moves. Not just one person. The movement is done in a way that maintains the structure of the Senate. A fresher does not just sit where a senior senator was. The arrangement is reshuffled in a way that ensures order and respects seniority.

This is a routine adjustment that happens all the time. It is not a new practice. It is not targeted at any one person. It is simply how the Senate works.

“Senator Natasha Refused to Move and Caused a Disruption”

On that day, Senator Natasha was asked to move to a new seat. Instead of complying, she refused. That, in itself, was already an issue because every other senator understands that seating changes happen regularly.

But what followed was even more concerning. She became uncontrollable, raising her voice, shouting, “I am not scared of you!” We all saw the video. That display was completely uncalled for.

At that moment, it was no longer about a seat—it was about discipline, order, and respect for the institution. If every senator decided to resist a simple procedural adjustment in that manner, the Senate would be ungovernable.

“The Senate Followed Due Process”

After that incident, the Senate Committee on Ethics invited her for a disciplinary hearing. That is the proper procedure. The committee heard from those who were present that day, and all agreed that she had acted in an unruly manner. The report that was submitted was clear—her conduct on the floor was unacceptable, and she should be suspended.

I personally reached out to her during this process. I sent her messages because, as a lawyer, I know that before any judgment is passed, a person must be given an opportunity to state their case.

I asked her:
“Are you prepared to apologize so that I can speak on your behalf? Ask that you be given the opportunity to apologize.”

She responded that she did no wrong.

That didn’t stop me. I told her directly: You are wrong. I watched the video. I saw what happened. The report before us was not about any sexual harassment claim—it was strictly about her disorderly conduct.

Misogyny Is Not the Issue—Disorderly Conduct Is

Some voices are trying to frame this as an attack on women in politics. That is a manipulation of the truth. Nigeria has many strong female leaders who have made their mark through discipline, strategic engagement, and respect for institutional processes. The Senate is not and has never been against women.

However, no lawmaker—man or woman—is above the rules of the chamber. The issue here is not gender; it is the expectation that all Senators must conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the institution they serve. The rules of engagement apply equally to all members, and when a Senator repeatedly flouts those rules, there must be consequences.

“The Allegations of Sexual Harassment Were Never Before the Senate”

One thing that must be made clear is that the Senate did not deliberate on any sexual harassment allegations. That matter is before the courts, and the courts will decide.

It is highly unlikely that she will win such a case, because the alleged incident supposedly happened over a year ago. She had multiple opportunities to report it to the Senate, the police, or any authority, yet she did not.

Even after this alleged incident, she traveled multiple times with the Senate President for international events, well-documented online. She was in the same spaces as him, attended meetings with him, and was often with her husband during these trips.

To now come forward and narrow these allegations to a particular day, a particular time—when her husband was within range, when other people were present, when the Senate President’s wife was in the family house—raises serious questions. It is highly unlikely that such discussions would take place in such a setting.

The Senate Must Uphold Discipline and Order

The Senate is not a chaotic town hall where emotions dictate decisions. There are clear procedures for addressing grievances, presenting petitions, and debating national issues. Senator Natasha was not sanctioned for submitting a petition—she was sanctioned for her behavior on the Senate floor.

If we allow sentiments to override discipline, the Senate will become ungovernable. This is not about suppressing opposition or silencing voices; it is about maintaining the dignity of the institution and ensuring that every member adheres to the same standards of conduct.

“Exploiting Feminine Sentiments for Political Gain”

It is disingenuous to claim that this is a case of gender-based suppression when the facts point to a different reality. The real danger is allowing the rules to be bent simply because a particular lawmaker chooses to play the victim card when confronted with the consequences of their actions.

Leadership comes with responsibility. Every Senator, regardless of gender, must conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the integrity of the Red Chamber. If we start excusing unruly behavior because of gender, then we are setting a dangerous precedent where rules become optional based on emotional appeal.

“The Role of Her Husband in This Escalation”

I was also deeply disappointed by the reaction of her husband. I had expected him to find a way to de-escalate the matter, to prevent it from becoming a full-blown crisis.

When he sent me his statement and reaction, I told him exactly how I felt. If my wife were in such a situation, I would do everything possible to resolve the issue privately, to manage it in a way that does not cause further division.

It is even more surprising because her husband has been friends with the Senate President long before he married Natasha. This could have been settled without this level of unnecessary public drama.

Conclusion: The Senate Must Stand Firm

The Senate must not bow to emotional blackmail or social media outrage fueled by half-truths. Nigeria’s democracy thrives when its institutions are strong, disciplined, and governed by rules—not when they are manipulated to serve personal or partisan interests.

We must ensure that the principles of accountability, order, and respect remain the guiding forces of our legislative process. This is not about silencing anyone; it is about ensuring that the Senate remains a place of reasoned debate, not theatrical disruptions.

Tags: Nigeria's SenateSenator Ned Nwoko
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Nigeria’s Senate President to Step Down Amid Sexual Scandal

Next Post

US Declares South African Ambassador persona non grata

You MayAlso Like

Interviews

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: ‘I’ve always been willing to take the consequences of speaking my mind’

June 24, 2025
Interviews

Exclusive interview with Paul Pogba: “I’m Not a Cheater—Just a Man Who Made a Mistake”

June 16, 2025
Interviews

Olga Cherevko: “Time being wasted on politics of aid while deaths mount in Gaza”

June 8, 2025
Interviews

Uchenna Okafor Reflects on Governor Oborevwori’s Transformative Two Years in Office

May 29, 2025
Interviews

Prince Harry’s bombshell interview about his father, royal family and security row in full

May 3, 2025
Interviews

A Legacy of Bridge-Building: Akinwumi Adesina’s Decade at Helm of African Development Bank Ends in May

April 12, 2025
Next Post

US Declares South African Ambassador persona non grata

Why Trump is singling out South Africa and accusing it of being anti-white and anti-American

Discussion about this post

Finally, Tinubu Reconciles Wike, Fubara

I Breastfed My Husband After Giving Birth, It Helped Us Bond — Mother Of Three

Wike, Fubara Agree On Peace Deal With Tinubu

Goodluck Jonathan Unveils Shocking Truths Behind Nigeria’s Constitutional Crisis During Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Prolonged Illness

Political Power Play: Atiku Abubakar Stripped of Waziri Adamawa Title

Are Igbos Cursed Or The Architects Of Their Own Predicament?

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1238 shares
    Share 495 Tweet 310
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1064 shares
    Share 426 Tweet 266
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    966 shares
    Share 386 Tweet 242
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    901 shares
    Share 360 Tweet 225
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

Most Saint Lucian Formerly Enslaved People Were Nigerians

July 1, 2025

Chief Uchenna Okafor Hosts Commissioner, Reaffirms Clampdown on Illegal Keke, Okada Operators

July 1, 2025

World leaders confront gap between rich and poor at Financing for Development meeting

June 30, 2025

House Committee Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Rivers State Sole Administrator Over N24 Billion CCTV Controversy

June 30, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIME AFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIME AFRICA biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About Time Africa Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.