The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday, waded into the dispute between the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing the calls for the Senate President to resign as premature.

Speaking through the chairman of its 19 branches in the North and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, the religious body called on the nation’s well-meaning elders to intervene to save the integrity of the federal legislature.

“As a responsible religious body, CAN considers the feud shameful and unfortunate,” it said during an engagement with the media in Kaduna, adding, “There is a need for elders to intervene. Akpabio and Natasha have some people they respect and highly regard.

The members of the National Assembly should do what they must to address the matter.”

During an interview with a national broadcast medium last Friday, Natasha accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her, attracting mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some of them calling for the Senate President’s resignation.

However, CAN said the call for Akpabio’s resignation was premature because nothing concrete had been established against him.

“Any group calling for Akpabio to resign should desist from that since nobody has established who is guilty in this matter yet.

Taking sides will only aggravate the issue.” It said the matter called for a responsible assessment and explained that such a grievous accusation should be handled with sobriety.

“No one should toy with an allegation of sexual harassment, but Nigeria has gone past this kind of thing.

Nigeria has gone past the era when people claim they are underdogs or minorities,’’ it stated, adding, “We should show that we are responsible people in addressing the matter, it is not to find fault but to mend fences.”

It urged the media not to fuel the feud in their reportage, saying that doing so would only further confuse and divide Nigerians. It appealed to all groups to sheathe their swords and refrain from making comments that could further divide Nigerians along gender or regional lines.

The CAN also appealed to members of the National Assembly to channel their energies toward improving Nigerians’ lives, as the 2025 national budget has been passed.