The Mayor of Urhoboland and former militant leader from the Niger Delta, Eshanekpe Israel, a.k.a Akpodoro, has urged his friend and husband of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, to immediately intervene and call his wife to order. Akpodoro emphasized that the ongoing confrontation between his wife and Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, should be stopped before it escalates further, warning that it is becoming a ‘mockery’ within Nigeria’s socio-political space.
Speaking from Abuja on Wednesday, the Mayor stressed that, as a respected high chief of Itsekiri Kingdom, Chief Uduaghan should not allow this trivial issue to damage his own reputation or that of his family. He added that every married woman is susceptible to amorous advances, but that it is ultimately up to the woman to either accept or refuse such advances, which he noted is a common occurrence.
Mayor Akpodoro described the allegations leveled by Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President as frivolous and said they should not be allowed to persist. He pointed out that Nigerians are aware of the truth beyond these claims, and that Chief Uduaghan should act decisively to control the situation before vested interests use it to cause division within the family.
Noting the close family relationship between Senator Akpabio’s family and his accusers, the Mayor suggested that Chief Uduaghan is in the best position to resolve the matter discreetly. He cautioned that allowing this issue to drag on would lead to embarrassment for both families.
In the context of Niger Delta traditions, Mayor Akpodoro observed that a husband should have taken the offensive immediately if he had been informed of his wife’s defiance early on. He stressed that the situation had already escalated beyond what should have been a private matter and should now be brought to a swift end.
The Mayor further pointed out that the Senate, as a respected national institution, should be accorded the dignity it deserves, regardless of personal or political conflicts.
“In the interest of friendship and mutual respect, the Uduaghan family should resolve this matter privately and stop fueling the conflict that some are attempting to exploit for political gain,” Mayor Akpodoro urged. He suggested that the ongoing dispute is part of a wider agenda to undermine Senate President Akpabio and weaken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration by discrediting key figures.
Taking aim at a former Senate President who had called for Senator Akpabio’s investigation, Mayor Akpodoro highlighted the hypocrisy of the remark. He reminded the public that the former Senate President had previously resisted investigations into serious allegations of criminal activity during his tenure, including involvement in the deadly Offa robbery.
Mayor Akpodoro described the call for investigation as double standards, pointing out that the allegations against Senator Akpabio were groundless and politically motivated. He further implored Chief Uduaghan to shield his wife from being used as a pawn in the political games of failed politicians.
“I call on the Senate President to remain focused and not be distracted by attempts to tarnish his reputation. Nigerians know the truth, and no amount of blackmail will weaken the support for Senator Akpabio,” Mayor Akpodoro affirmed.
He concluded by urging the Uduaghan family to put the matter to rest for the sake of peace, stressing that it was unworthy of public attention. “This issue is personal, and it should stay that way,” he added. “Let the peace return so that those stirring the conflict can find themselves out of work. We should not allow personal matters to turn into public ridicule.”
