Welcome Back Natasha!

By Dr Jarlat Uche Opara

Six months gone. Six months of suspension served . You fought a fight but what I am yet to process is how victorious the fight was and what its prospects would possibly be.

Was it an avoidable fight? Or one that would have been fought with greater sense of decorum, sauve and still achieves same result if not better result? I really don’t know why the jubilation and dance all about.

What fight did you win and what battle did you lose? What bridges did you burn and what bridges did you built? What opportunities did you miss and what opportunities did you create? What message did you pass and what message did you miss to pass?

The drama gone! The accusation yet to be proven in substantial measure. Oh Natasha! I wished you were a bit tactical and Machiavellian in approach, he probably would have left that seat with shame and pains by now. But he is still there, moved no inch and would complete his tenure seemlessly

What happened to your tact? A man who held your hands and whispered sweet nonsense to your ears would be emotionally pliable to be dragged either by his ties or agbada to a set up bed, pants down and evidence pictures taken effortlessly . Rather you were too unstrategic and your barking and roaring too early.

Now that your suspension has been served and your return to the red Chambers done and sealed, think how best to operate on that floor.

You are now the white Eagle that needs not be smeared and stained. That beautiful white apparel that wouldn’t entertain any dot of stain. The bar has been raised for you, I pray you maintain the standard.

If you were 70% diligent, careful and ethically compliant before the suspension, the percentage is over a 100% now. Landmines everywhere, traps at all corners by the fowlers patiently waiting for a catch.

If you ask me, nothing to celebrate now. Remain calm and calculative. Remain focused and intentionally humble. Speak your truth and pick your fight. Find strategies to build new bridges. Being on the floor of the Senate isn’t to brew controversies and play up activism needlessly. It is about good representation and making constructive criticisms in a very urbane manner. Six months of active and quality representation of your constituency wasted. Regaining it the best way possible, your focus for now.

Jarlathuche@gmail.com