SWL condemns the ridiculous and anti-democratic developments taking place in the Senate chambers since Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan levelled serious allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akapbio.
Rather than look at the substance of her allegations, the Senate has unleashed all manner of disdain and inhumane treatment against her. This included suspending her from the Senate for the next six months. This is unacceptable!
The despicable manner that the Senate is handling this matter trivialises a major problem for democracy. It goes beyond Natasha. It is about women’s rights in what claims to be a democratic system. It is about the place of sexism and patriarchy as major stumbling blocks to social progress and building a better society.
Furthermore, SWL notes that Senator Natasha’s motion to debate the corruption that has kept the Ajaokuta Steel Company unproductive is also entwined in this scandalous behaviour of the senate president, according to her. This is particularly worrying, given the potential economic benefits that the resuscitation of that plant will bring to the Nigerian people. We are, however, not surprised, because that chamber is full of scoundrels who would sooner choose a legacy of ignominy and disgrace over the chance to secure the future of generations of Nigerians to come.
How many more benefits have they deprived the Nigerian people out of patriarchal ego and sexual impropriety? Why must the senate leadership think it must control women? And is it not a shame that Senator Neda Imasuen, the Chair of the senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, who recommended the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, himself was disbarred as a lawyer in the United States; and fled to Nigeria when linked with a $25 million fraud by the FBI?
This condemnable scandal only reinforces our position that it is only a socialist revolution that can bring sanity back into governance in Nigeria. In the meantime, SWL calls for:
- an immediate reinstatement of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan;
- An open, transparent investigation of the allegations of sexual harassment;
- The stepping aside of Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President until the allegations have been fully investigated. He cannot be a judge in his own case;
- An unequivocal stand against sexual harassment and sexism in the Senate, National Assembly and everywhere in the country;
- The immediate resignation of Mr Neda Imasuen from the Senate.
Jamiu TOWOLAWI
National Chairperson
Amara NWOSU
National Secretary
