A youth group, Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide (NENYLCW), has asked South-South leaders to step in and help solve the disagreement between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The group made this request in a press statement shared with journalists on Friday.
They said they are worried that the issue has dragged on for too long. According to them, it’s time for respected leaders in the oil-rich Niger Delta region to speak up and bring both sides together to find peace.
The call for peace comes months after Senator Natasha was suspended from the Senate. Her suspension happened after she accused the Senate President of sexual harassment, which was said to have broken Senate rules.
In a statement signed by leaders of the group—Comrade Terry Obieh (President General), Comrade Balarabe Rufai (Vice President), Mazi Okwu Nnabuike (National Publicity Secretary), Comrade Emmanuel Zopmal (Organizing Secretary), and Comrade Hamisu Muhammad Dass (Treasurer)—they said they had waited for months hoping the problem would end. But since nothing has changed, they now believe South-South elders should step in and fix things peacefully.
Even though the matter is already in court, the youth group believes that court judgments alone will not bring peace. According to them, no matter who wins, true peace can only come from mutual understanding and dialogue.
That’s why they are calling on respected leaders like former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Akwa Ibom Governor Victor Attah, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and the leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum (PANDEF) to come together and help end the conflict. The group believes these elders have the experience and wisdom to restore peace. They used a local proverb to say elders shouldn’t ignore issues while they grow worse.
They also said that Nigerians have been reading different reports and stories about the conflict from both sides. At this point, they believe it’s time for both parties to stop and agree to peace.
The youth group reminded the public that Akpabio and Natasha once had a good relationship. They believe this “broken fence” can still be fixed if respected leaders help both sides talk things over.
They also said leaders shouldn’t just watch while the issue continues to grow. Whether Akpabio or Natasha is right or wrong doesn’t matter anymore—they believe peace is more important now.
They asked both Senator Akpabio and Senator Natasha to choose peace over conflict and think about the people they represent.
The group added that the people of Kogi West are no longer receiving quality representation since Natasha’s suspension. Even though she had already made a strong impact in the short time she served, her absence is affecting her people.
Because of this, NENYLCW says it’s the right time for peace. They are calling on both Akpabio and Natasha to settle their differences and allow peace to return.
