The thing between Godswill and Natasha, By Azu Ishiekwene

With solely 4 ladies out of 109 senators (each chambers of the Nationwide Meeting have eight of 490 members), this may sound like music to the ears of the male-dominated chamber. However within the hallways, simply outdoors their gilded workplaces, the phrase is that after a earlier sexual harassment allegation by Akpoti-Uduaghan in opposition to former presidential aide Reno Omokri, it’s time to show her a lesson.

A few years in the past, when my trainer mentioned nothing sells like intercourse, crime, and cash, I didn’t absolutely perceive what he meant. But, over time, I’ve repeatedly seen {that a} even handed combine of those socio-economic substances is a spellbinder.

Other than the tragic information about banditry, the suspense in Rivers State, and the heightened prostitution amongst politicians crossing carpet or discovering new harems, nothing has hugged the headlines as relentlessly because the salacious tango between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

After weeks of making an attempt to see, hear, and say no evil, I’m compelled to beat the temptation of abstaining by yielding. It’s not a straightforward street, consider me – not for these genuinely making an attempt to make sense of it, not for the busybodies and definitely not for the events concerned.

Managing their Libido

It’s heartbreaking that regardless of the perennial underperformance of the legislature, managing the libido of its menfolk has piled on the hazards we should endure.

Nevertheless it’s not a Nigerian factor, if that’s any consolation. A 2016 examine by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on sexism, harassment and violence in opposition to ladies parliamentarians signifies that 20 per cent of girls parliamentarians globally report sexual harassment throughout their phrases. The hospitality and healthcare sectors comply with the pecking order, with energy relations influencing the pattern in a number of industries, professions, and workspaces.

Allegations of sexual harassment or assault have certainly been weaponised previously. From the Central Park 5 within the US to Ivan Henry, and Perry Lott, exonerated solely two years in the past after serving 35 years for a rape conviction in Oklahoma, the literature is replete with instances of individuals wrongfully convicted for sexual offences they didn’t commit. Lott gained’t be the final.

What Is Behind Seven…

But, Akpoti-Natasha’s allegation ought to be taken extra significantly than simply one other common nuisance from an under-performing legislative department. The suggestions from insiders has been puzzling. Akpabio and Akpoti-Natasha have been good buddies, one supply advised me. In Akpabio’s Senate presidency, the supply mentioned, not one of the different three feminine senators have loved the privileges Akpoti-Uduaghan has, though she is a first-timer.

Jealousy, I believed, particularly when my supply added that other than her appointment as chairman of the juicy native content material improvement committee, Akpoti-Natasha had been part of the Senate president’s entourage on journeys to a number of enchanting locations earlier than issues fell aside. This supply, I’ve recognized for years, will not be given to flippancy. However I pressed for extra.

The purpose is that though he has framed this dispute as a ineffective distraction, he ought to by no means have been the prosecutor and choose in his personal case. As a result of he was concerned – the second time in 5 years – the matter ought to have been referred to an unbiased panel or opened to the general public.

Present Me Your Pal…

The supply added that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband, Emmanuel, a hard-working man, excessive chief, husband of 1 spouse, and pal of the institution however a non-legislator, had additionally executed a number of important contracts for the Nationwide Meeting working into tons of of thousands and thousands of naira.

For anybody aware of how issues are executed right here, lavish travels and contracts for one’s buddies are solely a tiny a part of the perimeter advantages. There’s a widespread saying amongst Nigerian politicians that one doesn’t give jobs to at least one’s enemies.

But, if it’s additionally true that one’s buddies can typically inform loads about who they’re, then anybody who’s Akpabio’s pal and will get particular remedy can not declare they’re strangers to his flippancy, a shortcoming for which he can not assist himself. Akpoti-Uduaghan ought to know him.

A Life-style of Tough Jokes

As governor of Akwa Ibom State, he mentioned earlier than TV cameras at a zonal assembly in Port Harcourt that “hungry” state celebration chairmen of his former celebration, the Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP), ought to be given a million naira every for snacks at Mr Biggs. Akpabio additionally famously mentioned that no matter cash can not do, extra money can do.

The bawdier selection vary from telling younger protesters final yr that those that wished to protest might accomplish that “whereas the remainder of us could be right here consuming.” To not point out his off-colour quip in regards to the Senate not being an evening membership or his pre-recess gaffe to “ship prayers” (which means cash) to senators simply earlier than their vacation.

The person can’t assist himself. He thinks the allegation in opposition to him is wokeism gone rogue and referred to as it “a ineffective allegation of sexual harassment.” However the gravity goes past his insinuation that Akpoti-Uduaghan is combating again for shedding her “juicy” committee seat or his cost that she thinks of herself as finer than Snow White, a girl to kill for.

Below the Rug

The purpose is that though he has framed this dispute as a ineffective distraction, he ought to by no means have been the prosecutor and choose in his personal case. As a result of he was concerned – the second time in 5 years – the matter ought to have been referred to an unbiased panel or opened to the general public.

Allegations of sexual harassment are sometimes tough to show. Many incidents happen privately, leaving no direct witnesses or corroborative testimony. Claims normally depend on the complainant’s phrases, and documentation of circumstantial proof is difficult.

Senate Chief Opeyemi Bamidele has mentioned Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended for her allegation in opposition to the Senate president however for a number of breaches, from refusal to take a seat in her assigned seat, talking with out recognition, disruptive behaviour, and failure to seem earlier than the Senate Ethics Committee, opposite to Senate Orders 2023 as amended.

Referring the matter to the Ethics and Privileges committee was speculated to create a veneer of impartiality. Nonetheless, Akpabio’s vindictiveness was obvious lengthy earlier than the committee returned the six-month suspension verdict on Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Senate president was pulling the strings.

It was not Akpoti-Uduaghan’s proper to a good, neutral listening to alone that was at stake, though the absence of that ought to have been adequate to discredit her punishment. Akpabio has additionally abridged the rights of the senator’s constituents in Kogi Central by this libidinous overreach.

He ought to have been extra restrained.

A Worrying Report

Self-discipline of members shouldn’t be taken flippantly. Of eight senators suspended since 1999, three have been within the final two years below Akpabio’s presidency. In 236 years, the US Senate has censured 9 members.

In South Africa, other than the raft of parliamentarians who resigned after the so-called Travelgate scandal within the early 2000s, essentially the most notable instances of censure since 1994 have been Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma, for various causes.

Senate Chief Opeyemi Bamidele has mentioned Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended for her allegation in opposition to the Senate president however for a number of breaches, from refusal to take a seat in her assigned seat, talking with out recognition, disruptive behaviour, and failure to seem earlier than the Senate Ethics Committee, opposite to Senate Orders 2023 as amended.

With solely 4 ladies out of 109 senators (each chambers of the Nationwide Meeting have eight of 490 members), this may sound like music to the ears of the male-dominated chamber. However within the hallways, simply outdoors their gilded workplaces, the phrase is that after a earlier sexual harassment allegation by Akpoti-Uduaghan in opposition to former presidential aide Reno Omokri, it’s time to show her a lesson.

Spouses Beware

Akpabio can not come clear by asking his spouse to inform us what a devoted husband he has been. Or telling us tales of how he spent the night time on the Dangote Cement manufacturing unit to make it to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage ceremony. We now have an concept what spouses would say in conditions like this, and the place he spent the night time to attend his pal’s marriage ceremony is his enterprise.

Sufficient of the salacious spellbinder. He ought to enable an unbiased investigation and publish the findings to carry closure to this sordid episode.

Azu Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and writer of the brand new e-book, Writing for Media and Monetising It.