- She asserted that a woman cannot be a victim of sexual harassment once she contests and wins a senatorial seat as such a feat moves her beyond such experiences.
Former Presidential Adviser and senator, Florence Ita-Giwa has shared her view on the allegation of sexual harassment levelled against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduagha (PDP, Kogi Central) during an interview on Arise Television alleged that Akpabio made inappropriate amorous advances towards her on several occasions.
Before the allegation, Natasha had a public spat with Akpabio over seating arrangements after her seat in the red chamber was changed.
Consequently, the Senate had unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, for disciplinary review.
Natasha, during the interview, claimed Akpabio started victimising and persecuting her, going as far as blocking her motions and bills in the red chamber, after she spurned him and turned down his sexual advances
Weighing in on the imbroglio, Ita-Giwa downplayed Natasha’s claims, stating that women in the Senate cannot be sexually harassed once they are elected.
Ita-Giwa, who represented the Cross-River South Senatorial District, repudiated the narrative that female lawmakers could be sexual harassed once they are elected.
She asserted that a woman cannot be a victim of sexual harassment once she contests and wins a senatorial seat as such a feat moves her beyond such experiences.
“By the time you contest elections and get to the Senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed,” Ita-Giwa said. “You go there to serve, and you are all equal in that place.”
Ita-Giwa also suggested that complaining about sexual harassment in the Senate is a sign of weakness. “It shows weakness; you don’t allow it. It (sexual harassment) cannot happen in the Senate,” she added.
While she clarified that she was not accusing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of lying, Ita-Giwa stressed that women in politics should be seen as equal to their male counterparts.
She emphasized that achieving a senatorial seat is no easy feat and should empower female senators to stand strong against any form of harassment.
“I am not saying the lady is lying, but when you get to the Senate, you’re there as a person. You’re not there as a woman,” Ita-Giwa remarked.
Ita-Giwa further stated that it is uncharitabel for female senators to openly accuse their male colleagues of harassment, calling it “the worst sign of weakness”.
Her comments have trigged a heated debate over the treatment of women in Nigerian politics, with many questioning the implications for future claims of sexual misconduct in the political arena.