Female Senators protest manhandling of Rep Oboh

ABUJA-ALL eight female Senators in the National Assembly yesterday condemned the manhandling of Doris Oboh in the chambers of the House of Representatives last week Tuesday, by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The Senators led by Senator Chris Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East, at press conference held in National Assembly complex in Abuja expressed their dismay over the treatment meted to  Oboh for allegedly being a member of the Progressive who asking for the resignation of the Speaker Dimeji Bankole over allegation of corruption.

They called on the leadership of the House of Representative to lift the sanction imposed on her and ensure her immediate return to the chambers.

 Senator Anyanwu flanked by Senators Grace Bent, PDP, Adamawa South, Iyabo Obasanjo- Bello, PDP, Ogun Central, and Nkechi Nwogu, PDP, Abia Central said that the dragging Hon. Oboh like a common criminal is demeaning and human. They called for her immediate reinstatement in the chamber.

She said, “We are here to express our dismay at the event that transpired in the Federal House of Representatives last week Tuesday, 22 June 2010, during which several members were beaten up, had their clothes torn and even a female legislator,  Doris Oboh, hamstrung and dragged out like a common criminal.

“The manner in which this was done was most unconscionable. The whole world over, people watched with disgust as this woman was dragged by one man, aided by a woman. She had earlier been pushed and she fell on the stairs of the chambers.

“Our position is that she could have been allowed some modicum of dignity and respect by walking her out of the chambers in a more decent manner by two female Sergeants-at-arms. Nowhere in the world would it have been considered an appropriate action to physically drag a female legislator.”

The female Senators called for the immediate lifting of the suspension of  Oboh by the House of Representative and threatened that the inhuman action meted out to her will not be condone in the future.

Senator Anyanwu said, “We are not going to sit back and watch this happen to any of us again. We do not want to see our women being disgraced, disrespected and slighted upon and we are asking the leadership of the House of Representatives to reinstate Hon. Oboh.”