•Natasha and Akpabio
A former lawmaker, Senator Ayodele Arise, has declared that every beautiful woman is subject to sexual gestures anywhere in the world.
Arise said while speaking on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Arise TV Morning Show programme today.
According to him, the matters should have better been handled properly by both parties rather than making the matter a national issue amidst pressing needs in the country.
The former senator who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011 stressed that there is sympathy towards women when sexual harassment claims occur.
He said, “Every woman that is good-looking radically is subjected to such gestures (sexual). Even people take other people’s wives, not even Nigeria. Would that be an issue for the TV for a senator? Of course, it wouldn’t have been right if it had happened. Even compliments like you are beautiful and you are gorgeous could be termed as sexual harassment. So, we need to know where it starts and where the limit is. The one that the law recognises and can be easily proven is if you rape a woman, there are ways this could be detected, and the law would take its course.
“If she were the President of Nigeria, would she accuse anybody of sexual harassment? She is a Senator, and what happens to saying ‘no’ when such issues arise? She could have removed her hand when she said the Senate President held her hand and let him know that this was a no-go area.
“When Senator Akpabio calls a male senator to see him in a hotel, would he read any meaning to it, on the floor, you are equal. If she doesn’t want to come to the hotel, she can decline the offer. There are so many things that can be discussed in the senate rather than this. This does not deserve the attention that people are giving it.
Speaking on Natasha’s suspension, Arise condemned the senate’s six-month resolution, saying, “When you suspend an elected person, you deprive that particular district of the right to representation. The court, in the cases of Omo-Agege and Ndume, has said those six months are too long. And is not legal. They implied that only two weeks should be appropriate for an erring senator. There should be punishment for breach of senate rules; the idea is to put somebody in order for no more than 30 days.
The ex-senator was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, reports Saturday PUNCH.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday, submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio.
The petition was submitted on the floor of the upper legislative chamber after the Senate resumed plenary.
Following the submission, Akpabio denied harassing Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other female senator, urging Nigerians to avoid premature conclusions.
“Since February 20, I have received numerous calls about this matter. I want to state that at no time did I sexually harass Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. My late single mother raised me and have the highest regard for women,” he said.
The Senate President cited his past recognition as Nigeria’s most gender-friendly governor during his tenure as Akwa Ibom State governor (2007–2015).
Furthermore, the senate officially suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan from all legislative activities, effective March 6, 2025, for six months.
The suspension followed a report submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Imasuen Neda Bernards (Edo South).
The report, presented to the Committee of the Whole, cited multiple infractions against the Rules and Orders of the Senate.
