• Recalls Telephone Conversation with Suspended Senator

• Safiu Kehinde

The Nigerian Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele has denied threatening the suspended Kogi lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

NPO reported that the embattled lawmaker had in an interview on Arise TV last week alleged being threatened on a phone call by Bamidele over her clash with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

This was after accusing Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her, stressing that her refusal marked the beginning of her troubles in the Senate.

Reacting to the allegation at the Red Chamber’s plenary session on Thursday, Bamidele admitted having called Natasha at midnight.

The Senate Leader, however, denied threatening the Kogi lawmaker as he recalled the conversation he had with her.

“I listened to distinguished Senator Natasha on Arise News. And I’m saying to all my distinguished colleagues, I had no regrets about what she said about me.

“She said I called her at exactly thirteen minutes past twelve. I had no regrets. Every one of you knows that it is characteristics of my own personal leadership role to try and reconcile everybody.

“I went to the Senate President, and I got there that night. I said Sir, tomorrow, in chamber, you will have to tender a public apology to distinguished Senator Natasha.

“Her understanding of what you said is different from the way you are interpreting it by saying she should not speak as if she was in a nightclub.

“And Mr. President you explained again that what you meant was that it is only in the nightclub that everybody speaks in loud voice, trying to raise their voice above the volume of the music.

“And I said Sir, I understand you. But tomorrow, you need to explain that to her and other Nigerian women and apologise to her.

“And you asked me a question that why is it that you are always coming to me to talk? Have you called Senator Natasha? Everybody is dragging me on social media and bloggers, including herself, saying I must go down. Have you called her?

“I picked my phone, and I called Senator Natasha, placing her on speaker- DSP was there and two others of our colleagues.

“And I called. I didn’t think 12 midnight was anytime that we will not still be awake as Senators. We go to bed 2am, 3am. People who are dragging us on social media should know that.

“When I called distinguished Senator Natasha, the first thing I said was Distinguished I am sorry, I hope I did not wake you up.

“She said she was still awake. I said how is my brother? -referring to her husband she said he is fine, and he is right here.

“And I said I only called you to ask you a question. She said what? I said my dear sister, what will you gain if the Senate President goes down? What do you stand to benefit?

“That was all the discussion. And as she was talking, she said well, I didn’t start this fight.

“As she was talking, my phone started saying reconnecting, meaning that network was failing. I cut it off and called back.

“As soon as she came back, Mr. President, you took over the discussion, believing that you were talking to a friend’s wife who just said the husband was by her. And you said Princess of the Senate, why are your people dragging me? And we discussed all of these.

“And at the end of the discussion, you spoke with the husband and reminded the husband about a pending nomination that he was supposed to make for Delta state.

“And I thought that was the height of it Mr. President. You were nominating people who will serve the Public Complaint Commission. The husband is not the governor of Delta. He is not a Senator from Delta.

“And I felt it was the height of respect you could have for anybody that you would ask the husband to submit name of nominee for Delta state for a five-year tenure in public service. That was how we rounded off that discussion.” Bamidele recounted.

He expressed his shock by Natasha’s appearance on Arise TV where she accused him of threatening her.

“I listened to distinguished Senator Natasha on Arise. We rendered the discussion; we came here the following day; you apologized; and that rested the matter.

“But she recalled the matter last week on Arise and simply said I called her at 13c minutes past 12, middle of the night to threaten her and I said if SP must go down, you too must go down.

“I never said so. And I called on the DG DSS and all those security agencies who have unrestricted access to telecommunication networks to please recall the record of the discussion I had with distinguished Senator Natasha on my phone.

“For me, if somebody say something that I know to be a blatant lie, it will be difficult for me to believe any other thing you say.

“So that’s why when she proceeded later to say I’m sexually harassed; Senate President took me round his house where his wife and children live and was holding my hand and my husband followed.

“There was no way I will believe all that.” Bamidele added.