Leadership Lessons from Senator Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan’s Suspension and Reinstatement
With the recent ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is set to return to the Senate to resume her constitutional duty of representing, us, the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
While the court affirmed the Senate’s right to discipline its members according to internal rules, it held that the six-month suspension was excessive and unjustly deprived Kogi Central District of representation. On the matter of her unpaid allowances during the suspension period, I am not sure the court offered any comment.
The Senator is expected to return to her seat in the Red Chamber but the events surrounding that fateful day she defied a directive to make her contributions only from her assigned seat are worthy of reflection.
I am here wondering: 5 months after, what did her decision not to resume her seat accomplish – for her personally, and for us, her constituents, and for women in political leadership? What message did it send, and what was the cost?
Leadership is not only about occupying a position. It is a burden of responsibility, emotional intelligence, and strategic maturity. By all accounts, Senator Natasha’s legislative work has been very impressive. But leadership is not judged solely by performance and should not be; it is equally measured by relationships, temperament, and the ability to navigate complex dynamics with grace.
A good leader must al