Senator Natasha Akpoti’s accusation of sexual harrassment against the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio is a very serious issue that the Nigerian state and the people shouldn’t take for granted. It doesn’t matter what their relationship was before the allegation, if what she describe in that interview happened, then Senator Akpabio needs to resign. This is about the office of the senate president and it is not a joke. The office is bigger than Akpabio and individual. If Natasha fabricated the story to set up Akpabio, she should also pay for it.
Sexual harrassment is a serious criminal offense. In fact, using the official power of that office to solicit for sex through blackmail is unacceptable.
This is why the allegation needs to be investigated thoroughly. Men in high places using their power tosolicit for sex with vulnerable women is something that has been normal and is still commonplace in Nigeria. A BBC investigate journalist once captured the scenario with investigation in University of Lagos and a University in Ghana, where lecturers were caught on video involved in sexual harrassment. These behaviours are not only rampant in the universities but in every institution. Women are usually shut down in a men’s world, or blamed for being the people who tempted the men. They are even stigmatised. Many women would rather keep quiet. If a woman like Natasha would bullied, what is the fate of women who have no power?
In this medium, we believe proper investigation should be conducted on this matter. Since the Senate seem they cannot handle their own affairs, an independent body should do it.
