Betty Akeredolu, former first lady of Ondo state, has chided Florence Ita-Giwa, a former senator, for saying women cannot be sexually harassed once they become senators.
Ita-Giwa was commenting on the sexual harassment allegation levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central.
Akeredolu said sexual harassment can happen anywhere — including in the Nigerian senate.
In a post on X, Akeredolu cited a case of sexual harassment claims in Meta, a US tech company.
In a memoir published on Tuesday, a former Meta employee laid out allegations of misconduct at the company, including claims of sexual harassment.
Akeredolu shared the video of Sara Wynn-Williams, the former Meta employee, who made the allegations.
“By the time you contest elections and get to senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed,” Ita-Giwa had said on Arise TV.
“Where is Florence Ita-Giwa? She needs to watch this video. Shebi, she come say woman senator no fit experience sexual harassment,” Akeredolu wrote.
“That for the mere fact of contesting and winning the election to become a senator, she is almost like a man. Are you serious now, madam former senator?
“Fellow Nigerians, this video has put a lie to Florence Ita-Giwa’s unfounded assumption bereft of any logical reasoning. Women at the top positions can be sexually harassed, BIG TIME!
“Even in Mark Zuckerberg empire, Meta, allegation of sexual harassment was made by his former director, Sara Wynn-Williams, who was fired in retaliation of sexual harassment accusation she made.
“Now, she has spilled a whole lot of beans in her memoir, no 1 best seller, Careless People, which Meta is trying so hard to block from being promoted.
“The lesson here is that sexual harassment happens in both low and high places. Nigerian Senate can hardly be an exemption!” (The Cable)
