From Abubakar Yakubu, Abuja
A non-governmental organisation, the Every Woman Hope Centre has vowed to mobilize Nigerian women to support Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her battle with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The group called on all women to see this as a clarion call for action as was displayed during the Aba Women riot in 1930.
Founder and Executive Director of the centre, Mrs Edel-Quinn Agbaegbu, who said this in Abuja during a press briefing, however explained that the action will be non-violent and urged the relevant authorities handling Natasha’s case to ensure due process instead of trivializing matters for the best interest of the Senate.
“We suggest that a thorough investigation of the sexual harassment allegation be carried out and the process shall be very transparent to build consideration in our systems in the best interest of democracy in Nigeria,” she stated. She frowned at the speed at which Sen. Natasha’s trial went before the Senate Ethics Committee despite a court order stopping the process and the harsh punishment given to her which includes a six-month suspension; barred from identifying herself as a senator or appearing at the National Assembly; withdrawal of her security detail and her official vehicles as well as salary. The group’s leader lamented further that with the senator’s suspension, the country is currently left with only three women out of 109 senators, adding that it is worrisome and has an implication in the future participation of women in Nigeria’s politics. “This societal decadence should not be sustained in our political system and should be urgently addressed with a whole-of-society approach, instead of considering it as Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case as it is far bigger than this and calls for urgent strategic action to re-orientate our society,” she noted. She said instead of victimizing Sen. Natasha, she should rather be respected for her boldness against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming.
“Her bravery to stand up against alleged man’s inhumanity to man should serve as an encouragement to other women who are most vulnerable to sexual harassment to voice out in the face of similar challenges,” she declared.