Harassment saga: Fayemi’s wife condemns Kingibe, Ita-Giwa, other over remarks on Natasha
Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, has strongly criticised ex-senators Florence Ita-Giwa and Biodun Olujimi, alongside serving Senator Ireti Kingibe, over their comments on the ongoing controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Tribune Online reports that Senator Natasha accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of making sexual advances towards her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom State.
She added that Akpabio frustrated her attempts to raise motions about Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State because she rejected his advances.
Reacting to the development, Ita-Giwa said Natasha “showed signs of weakness” by raising the allegation, while Olujimi urged her to be strong and avoid appearing emotionally unstable in the Senate.
Kingibe, on her part, downplayed the incident, saying the senator should not have made a fuss about the issue.
Mrs Fayemi, while reacting in an opinion piece titled ‘Not About Natasha’, described the responses of the trio as “extremely disappointing”.
“After she dropped the bomb, there was a flurry of activities. Senator Ireti Kingibe, a serving female Senator and two former female Senators – Senator Abiodun Olujimi and Senator Florence ita-Giwa, were invited to share their views,” she said.
“All three Senators are older friends or at least acquaintances of mine, and I have a lot of respect for them. However, I found their submissions extremely disappointing.
“It is one thing to argue that it is important to follow the rules. I don’t think anyone will insist on flouting the rules of such an important institution, especially if they are applied fairly and not subjectively.
“It was however clear that Senator Natasha felt beleaguered, and she believed that there was a score the Senate President wanted to settle with her.
“If this was the case, then I would have expected the three Senators to support a process that would enable Senator Natasha shed light on her serious allegations of sexual harassment (beyond national television) and for the Senate President to defend himself in a transparent manner.”
She expressed dismay that the female senators failed to stand in solidarity with Natasha in a moment of need.
“To my horror, none of the female Senators deemed it necessary to stand up for another woman. Even if, in their opinion, Senator Natasha was misguided on matters of process and temperament, she was still entitled to have her fears and concerns heard,” she added.
“It is so painful that all three of them missed an opportunity to see the bigger picture and address the constant intimidation, gaslighting, and belittling women in leadership positions go through.”
Mrs Fayemi, who is a women’s rights advocate, also described Natasha’s eventual suspension on March 6 for a procedural rules violation as reflective of the broader struggles women face in the workplace.
“To all the women who have publicly taken a position against Senator Natasha, I have news for you. You are not fighting the same battle as most of the male Senators or the men around us who have also aired their views. You are not on the same page; you are not even reading the same book,” the ex-first lady added.
“If it was just about Senator Natasha following the rules and not disrupting the space for women in politics, the problem can be easily fixed.
“I am sure if Senator Natasha takes the time to familiarise herself with Senate rules and proceedings (assuming she has not done so already) this will make her work in the Senate more productive.
“However, this is not what is at play here. What is happening is a full-scale war on women in public life, with clear lines drawn.
“Women need to wake up! We need to do battle with the powerful forces that want women to keep being silent in the face of provocation and abuse.
“My heart broke when one of the female ‘protesters for hire’ said she was protesting because they do not want ‘stubborn women’ like Senator Natasha. Her words might have sounded like the rants of an illiterate, but those are the sentiments of the powerful people who surround Senator Natasha.
“She is too opinionated, stubborn, uncontrollable, all the things no woman is meant to be. They want women who are quiet, humble, play by the rules (as set by them) and who literally and figuratively, keep their heads down.”
