By SHULAMITE EDANARU
Dr. Blessing Akele, a Socio political Activist, a co-founder of a political pressure group Citizens Movement of Nigeria (CMN), investor in the agricultural and renewable energy sectors of the Nigerian economy, European trained Jurist (Magistral doctor in Jurisprudence) and a former INEC record Labour Party Gubernatorial Aspirant in Edo State, has called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to Apologize to Nigerian Women over the assault on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Dr. Akele stated this while reacting to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six months suspension at the Upper Chamber of Nigerian Assembly, the Senate.
She described the decision of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition as discriminatory and witch hunting.
We find ourselves in a male dominated senate in which just four females are present among 105 males. This fact on its own is a problematic reality. Because the female gender is practically wiped out of the political class.
No wonder the impartial deliberation and abusive decision upheld in this matter by the senate committee on Ethics.
Expressing her disapproval over the role of the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen who happens to be a member of Labour Party in Edo State, said that the senator came short in his duty to abiding by the fundamental principles of the labour party of social justice, equity and welfare.
The unfortunate and partial decision of the committee is in direct violation of the freedom of speech, freedom of thought and espression of senator Akpoti. Such action can’t be tolerated at the highest legislative arm of government because it is a blatant devaluation of the female gender at their workplace. As well as, a callous attempt to silence the female gender in politics.
Senator Neda Imasuen, as a lawyer, should have known better. However, I want to remind him, all his colleagues and especially the senate president Akpabio that, it isn’t among his prerogatives and previleges that of sexually harassing any woman, married, engaged or single in the Red Chamber or out in the civil society. No, they don’t have that right, nor privilege. When they display such rascality that amounts to criminal offence, they must be prosecuted according to the criminal law due process.
“We believe there was no fair hearing, no proper and adequate investigation was carried out by the Committee before suspending Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Frankly, the Senate President was supposed to tender his resignation to allow for a fair and proper investigation to ensue. Rather, the assaulted was suspended with her emoluments frozen for the next six months, while the culprit walks freely. This action is outrageous. Senator Akpoti deserves total solidarity and right to claim a series of damages, she said.
According to her, the Senators are ridiculing the National Assembly with their actions. She advised that to remedy the ugly situation which has placed the Country in a bad light globally, the Senate President should first of all resign while Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be reinstated to her _status_ _quo_ _ante_ and allowed to sit in her original position at the Senate.
She added with nostalgia that if the Senate President, is not prosecuted for sexually assaulting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, other women who occupy public positions might face worst cases and be at the mercy of similar fake alpha males.
“To show that this Country is serious for once, Senator Akpabio should step aside also because he isn’t effectively fit to be the senate President for all the show of political incapabilities, lack of self-esteem and national display of his illiteracy: he couldn’t even read an arithmetic lump sum of the Federation budget because it began with trillions. He is a national disgrace. Furthermore, he needs to apologize to all Nigerian Women for sexually assaulting a female senator who has fought so hard to attain the exalted legislative position”.
“I am also using this opportunity to call out other Women Senators at the chamber who had remained mute on this matter instead of expressing solidarity to Natasha to do so. They’re still on time and including their disapproval will give them an edge over the male ability to twist and bend the rules and regulations solely in their favour. They should remember they’re there to enable the straightening and balancing of the rule of law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As Women, until we rise up against injustice and Intimidation against fellow gender, until we respect and support ourselves, until we realize how strong and formidable our social position is, the men will continuously undermine and ridicule the women, forgetting there’s a man in every wo-man”.