‘Extremely disappointing’ — Bisi Fayemi tackles Ireti Kingibe, Ita-Giwa over remarks on Natasha Akpoti saga

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bisi Fayemi, former first lady of Ekiti state, has flayed ex-senators Florence Ita-Giwa and Biodun Olujimi for their takes on the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan saga.

She also had strong words for Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT).

Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her during a visit to his home in Akwa Ibom state.

The allegation was preceded by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outburst against Akpabio over seating arrangement.

During separate television appearances, Ita-Giwa said as a senator, Akpoti-Uduaghan “showed signs of weakness” with her sexual harassment allegation, while Olujimi asked the Kogi central senator to be strong and not display signs of emotional instability in the senate.

Kingibe had posited that Akpoti-Uduaghan should not have made a big deal out of the seat rearrangement fiasco.

‘IT WASN’T ABOUT SENATE RULES’

In a piece titled ‘Not About Natasha’ published on Saturday, Bisi Fayemi said the submissions of Olujimi, Kingibe and Ita-Giwa were “extremely disappointing”.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Bisi Fayemi said she was horrified that the trio could not stand up for another woman.

“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,” she added.

“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.”

‘FULL-SCALE WAR ON WOMEN’

Bisi Fayemi, a women rights advocate, said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s eventual suspension on March 6 for procedural rules violation was symptomatic of what women face in the workplace.

“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,” the ex-first lady added.

“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.

“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.”(The Cable)