The Thing Between Godswill And Natasha

A few years in the past, when my trainer stated nothing sells like intercourse, crime, and cash, I didn’t totally perceive what he meant. But, over time, I’ve repeatedly seen {that a} considered 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 attempting 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 attempting 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.

But it surely’s not a Nigerian factor, if that’s any consolation. A 2016 research by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on sexism, harassment and violence towards ladies parliamentarians signifies that 20 p.c 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 prior to now. 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 received’t be the final.

What’s behind seven…

But, Akpoti-Natasha’s allegation needs to be taken extra critically 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 informed me. In Akpabio’s Senate presidency, the supply stated, not one of the different three feminine senators have loved the privileges Akpoti-Uduaghan has, regardless that 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 growth 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 identified for years, just isn’t given to flippancy. However I pressed for extra.

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 a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of naira.

For anybody conversant in how issues are achieved 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 generally inform quite a bit 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 way of life of tough jokes

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

The bawdier selection vary from telling younger protesters final 12 months that those that wished to protest may 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” (that means cash) to senators simply earlier than their vacation.

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

Underneath the rug

The purpose is that regardless that 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.

Referring the matter to the Ethics and Privileges committee was purported 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, regardless that the absence of that ought to have been ample 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 document

Self-discipline of members shouldn’t be taken calmly. Of eight senators suspended since 1999, three have been within the final two years underneath 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, probably the most notable instances of censure since 1994 have been Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma, for various causes.

Senate Chief Opeyemi Bamidele has stated Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended for her allegation towards the Senate president however for a number of breaches, from refusal to sit down 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 would possibly sound like music to the ears of the male-dominated chamber. However within the hallways, simply exterior their gilded workplaces, the phrase is that after a earlier sexual harassment allegation by Akpoti-Uduaghan towards 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 trustworthy husband he has been. Or telling us tales of how he spent the evening on the Dangote Cement manufacturing facility to make it to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s wedding ceremony. We now have an thought what spouses would say in conditions like this, and the place he spent the evening to attend his pal’s wedding ceremony is his enterprise.

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