Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed a number of events at the Nigerian Senate, which have left some of us shell-shocked. It is quite common for arguments and battles of all kinds to break out in the National Assembly. It is not easy for so many representatives of their people to get along without ruffling each other’s feathers. However, what we have all witnessed recently cannot be considered normal. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, wanted to speak from the floor of the Senate. She was not recognised to speak because her seat had been moved. She refused to proceed to her new seat because she felt undermined and disrespected. Apparently, Senator Natasha had been bottling in a number of grievances against her colleagues, especially the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. She then went on to make allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President on national television.
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. 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. 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. 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.
I was shocked to hear Senator Florence Ita-Giwa claim that ‘if you are a Senator as a woman, no one can harass you’. On July 12th, 2016, Senator Dino Melaye threatened to assault and impregnate his female colleague, Senator Oluremi Tinubu on the floor of the Senate, and ‘nothing will happen’. That unbelievable insult was not only directed at Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is now the First Lady of the country, but to all Nigerian women who venture into public life in various capacities. Before our very eyes, in this country we live in, several senior female politicians have been insulted and disrespected by other male politicians at one point or the other. Most women in leadership positions have to contend with patriarchal odds overwhelmingly stacked against them, so they learn survival skills to help them conserve their energy and live to fight another day. It is an understandable strategy, but not always a wise one when you have an opportunity to close ranks and make a point that will go a long way in demanding a new culture of respect for women in leadership.
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. 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, those who have a penchant for using women against women and those who dangle carrots and sticks while we dance and perform for them. We don’t have to like Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She does not need to be liked or admired. Yet, she needs to be respected, heard, and allowed justice. The misogyny in high places this case has revealed is unsettling. One of Senator Natasha’s colleagues, Senator Peter Nwebonyi, Deputy Chief Whip, had the audacity to go on television to allege that Senator Natasha has X number of children for X number of men (a claim that is untrue) therefore her allegations of sexual harassment should be disregarded. Really? Coming from a place where many of the leaders there have households straight out of the popular family comedy ‘Fuji House of Commotion’.
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. Since we only have 4 women out of 109 Senators, it is no surprise that the ‘Landlords’ will always make sure the ‘Tenants’ know their place. The moment you forget, you will be forcefully reminded. If you are in doubt, seek out the footage of proceedings at the Lagos State House of Assembly on March 3rd.
What happened in the Senate chambers on March 6th 2025 was a travesty. The impunity and disregard were breathtaking. The Senate President should have demonstrated leadership by allowing someone else to receive the petition against him. You cannot sit in judgement over a case that involves you. As if that was not bad enough, there was a rush to suspend Senator Natasha for six months, minus her privileges, even when there are court rulings that suspending legislators for more than 14 days is detrimental to their representational functions. This was clearly designed to humiliate, punish and demean Senator Natasha as much as possible.
Time and history will be the judge of all concerned. In my own opinion, this is not about Senator Natasha. This is about all the women who venture into leadership positions, who have to contend with hostile working environments, who have to live through their private lives being picked apart, and who have to struggle to balance all their professional and personal obligations. To those who have been asking the foolish question, is she the only one? why don’t you start by asking all the women in your life what they have gone through to get where they are.
As we mark (I can’t find it in me to celebrate) another International Women’s Day on March 8th, it would serve us well as Nigerian women to know which battles we want to fight and what wars are worth winning. We all need to stand and fight for ourselves, the war is not against one woman.
#I stand with SenatorNatasha.
33 Responses
Echoes perfectly my own sentiments. Yanks for writing this in beautiful prose!!!
Well said sis
Gbam! Gbagam!!
#I stand with Senator Natasha
Drop Mike! A comprehensive statements that captures all the points of the case in a balanced way. My favourite part “To those who have been asking the foolish question, is she the only one? why don’t you start by asking all the women in your life what they have gone through to get where they are.” Let the war stories begin!!! Thank you so much my big Sis!!!
Wondering when we women will learn to stick together. If it doesn’t start with us who’ll start the process?
I echo your sentiments!
# I stand with Natasha.
They’ve made it a case of us against them . The cult like behaviour of the senators is mind boggling
well said, this is not about Sen Natasha. tlThis is about all women, this is about Human Right, the Future of Democracy in Nigeria and above all the common sense that Women are Human! we must all rise to this occasion; makes and females. For the men, this is about your daughters, sisters, mothers and all the women in your life. it is about you dearing tall and be a man by standing on the side of fairplay and justice
well written
PLEASE NIGERIANS, MEN, WOMEN,YOUNG, OLD, CHILDREN. WE NEED TO STOP THIS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN ALL AREAS WHEREVER WE ARE!!!! THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, BOTH THE STATES, SEEMS TO BE LIKE A WAR ZONES ALWAYS!!!! IF THE LEGISLATORS ARE SEASONED, CULTURED, EDUCATED MEN,WOMEN, PEACE, HARMONY WILL ALWAYS REIGN!!!!
It’s the right time for women to speak up whenever they’re facing any harassment. There’s no need to shy away from such. The more women that speak up, the more we will expose them. I support #justiceforsenatornatasha #istandwithsenatornatasha
Whether her claims are right or wrong. She shouldn’t be crucified before hearing her out or giving evidences to back up her allegations.
Just wondering if we’ll ever scale through this female segregation in politics. #sighs#
I stand with Senator Natasha..
Without holding brief for the Senators mentioned including my big aunty, mentor and our pride in Cross River Senator Ita Giwa, I do not think we should expend energy second guessing ourselves. The question womenfolk have to answer on this day is where are the men-the he for she’s? Where are those interventions at national and state levels, beyond press statements, that gave us hope of better days to come?. Even in the writers’ home state Ekiti, we no longer read about those inspiring interventions- Register for Sex offenders, name and shame, zero tolerance for GBV. What happened?
It is clear that the threat to the place of women in public life is symptomatic of how the status of women in Nigeria is falling. It is time we get off social media and back on the streets.
Women need to stop being our own worst enemies! There are so many issues to unpack from the statements of the 3 other women! Thank you for your perspective, which I share. Justice for Senator Natasha!
Thank you Erelu. God bless you ma.
Why the rush to suspend her. What was she not given a fair hearing. Many questions need to be answered.
hank you Erelu. God bless you ma. Why the rush to suspend her. Why was she not given a fair hearing. Many questions need to be answered.
Thank you Erelu. God bless you ma. Why the rush to suspend her. Why was she not given a fair hearing. Many questions need to be answered.
Such a balanced write-up. Mirrors my stand totally.
Thank you so much for this.
No reasonable Woman will come out to face the World if she hasn’t been Sexually harrased. God is watching and the World is also watching. Senator Natasha you have beauty and brains and a threat to so many. You are my Heroine.
Hmmm,I shed tears not because am a woman.I shed tears because I see injustice jeopardized against a being who is first God’s daughter,a wife to a man and a mother to a son.Talking about a woman, God’s creation is not complete without her. How did we get here that our Fathers,Husbands,brothers and Sons so disrespect and shut us up on such issues as Senator Natasha’s case.For the female folks that support this,am sure they don’t understand the value of Woman hood.Your position is well captured my Sister.
Well said! An excellent piece.
Apt
Thank you ma’am
#I stand with Senator Natasha
Well said and aptly captured. It is her story and she should be heard. There is an urgent need to have more women representation in the National Assembly even though the few there could not stand for their gender. Basically nothing to celebrate the International Women’s Day in Nigeria. We are far from being heard in Nigeria . Thanks for this wonderful piece.
JusticeforNatasha and stopinjusticeagainstwomen!!
Well said. Thank you for being a voice for women it’s about time other high profile women come out to speak , it’s not just about Natasha alone it’s about women and showing the younger generation women that they speak up.
Very well written. Every word is relevant to the situation. I have utmost respect for Senator Natasha having the guts to stand up for what she believes in! There are so many flaws, other than the sexual harassment charge. Whether the allegations are true or not, the Senate president should not be playing both judge & jury. He is the accused, and he is giving judgement of Suspension for 6 months etc. He is depriving a section of the Nigerian public from representation in the affairs of the country for 6 months. She has a senatorial district that she represents. It is even scarier to recognise that as Senste President for 2 years he doesn’t know the rules and guidelines that are in the constitution. The other senators who stood with him to decide and agree also don’t know that the constitution says max of 14 legislative days. Na wa o! Are we making up the rules as we go along now?
I stand with Natasha.
Our numbers keep dropping as our voice, because we are women and not because we are not qualified.
In any position I will vote for women first, not just because they are women, but they will unmute me.
Loud whispers are about those cast aside. Sucking it up while being abused, is not maturity.
Your whispers and mine must be loud.
This is perhaps the most balanced write up on the subject. Thank you.
nice write up, I stand with senator Natasha
women supporting women
This captures it all. Very well said
#Istandwithnatasha
Well. One for all. All for one. Nigeria fast becoming a theater of the absurd. There should be resistance to all forms of operation.