Heated Budget Showdown: ‘You Can’t Do This To Me!’ – Natasha Confronts Senator Ndubueze

The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, clashed with fellow lawmaker Patrick Ndubueze during the Ministry of Steel Development’s budget defence session.

Ndubueze, who chairs the Senate Committee on Steel Development, reportedly declined to grant Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to question the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.

Senator Natasha had requested permission to raise what she described as critical questions during the session. However, Ndubueze refused her request and struck the gavel to bring proceedings to a close.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the committee chairman of being disrespectful and argued that members had not been given adequate time to properly engage the minister.

“I have something to say. Please, would you mind if I do so?” she asked during the session.

Ndubueze replied, “Distinguished, please let’s call it a day.”

As she made another attempt to address the minister, the chairman again struck the gavel.

“Mr Chairman, please don’t hit the gavel. I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough,” Natasha pleaded.

Ndubueze responded, while striking the gavel once more: “I have given you respect. Mr Minister, your time is up. Thank you.”

Reacting strongly, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “That is fine. You have disrespected me more than enough. You can’t do this to me. I have something very important to ask the minister, and it doesn’t matter whether I have spoken once or twice. This is meant to be an interactive session, and we have not had sufficient engagement with the minister. Only God knows when next we will meet with him as a committee.”