I do not like politics. I do not jump on global takes and celebrity news. I do aim to branch out at some point in my life, and you know, no one knows where life would take you. Also, by virtue of my aspiring profession, anything is possible. But currently, all news is simply that. News. So, I avoid talking or even thinking about it, because it will pass away and a new one will take its place. Why have a headache over something you can’t control, right?
But there’s a reason I had to give my take on this particular national issue today. About a day or so ago, I saw the news of Senator Natasha suing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment. Was a rather unpleasant news, but as is customary to my nature, I paid it no mind. They will sort out themselves and the world will keep spinning, as always, I said to myself.
Today, I went to pick up my PC from the technicians, and I could see people gathering at a distance. The last time I’d passed this road, the police, or military, I’m guessing, were throwing tear gas everywhere, so I earnestly hoped it was nothing violent of the sort, and I could pass in peace. However, as I drew closer, I heard screams and chants, and acquiesced within myself that it must be a demonstration of some sort. Then, I reached the spot where it was happening and nearly had my mouth hanging open.
Women. About thirty of them with placards demonstrating. Some of them were wailing on the ground, others were gyrating. Everyone was lamenting. What was happening? And so, I squinted to look at what was written on their placards and then it all clicked. The write ups were amusing, to say the very least, coupled with the chants of “Leave our son alone, you foolish woman. Leave our son alone!”
I took pictures because I decided there and then that I was going to talk about this. What to do? Now that I saw the demonstrations, I couldn’t pretend not to see it, could I? This protest did not last long, and about twenty minutes later, they dispersed. So, I guess God wanted me to pass that street at that particular time so that I’d give my take? How can I refuse?
Now, I wanted to be objective as possible. Once a woman says she’s been harassed or assaulted, my first impulse is to believe that she is right. No questions asked. But, I knew I couldn’t afford to parade my rightness based on intuition alone, so even as I kept walking to the Technician’s, I knew I would spend most of the afternoon reading reports, cases and whatever was available on the internet with regards to this case. I planned to read with an open mind, so that I can give my opinion fairly, without bias or any element of subjectivity.
I read through the case and the claims. Senator Natasha’s claim of harassment. Senator Akpabio’s denial through his aide. Senator Akpabio’s wife’s counter suing for defamation of character and libel. One thing I observed, Senator Akpabio has not made a statement himself regarding the issue, although his wife is running around fighting his cause.
Now, these women. Not the men, the middle class to older generation women were rolling on the tarred roads yelling that their son, who is an indigene of my state should be left alone. Placards saying, “Natasha, you’re a disgrace to womanhood.” “Respect for our husbands is our tradition,” and all that.
My findings also revealed that the said Senator Natasha sometime in 2014 accused a renowned figure in the nation, Reno Omokri for sexual harassment and after it was more or less proven that her claims were false, allegedly, she deleted all her posts were she claimed she had been harassed by him. Eleven years later, she’s suing Godswill for the same issue. But her past actions do not make her claims seem believable to a lot of people, right?
I am trying to be objective here, guys. But can I just admit that it’s scary. It’s scary that people are willing to write something as grievous as this off when it clearly looks like a workplace witch-hunt? Let’s bear in mind that this is not the first or the second or the third time that the current Senate President has been accused of sexual harassment by women. I’m not home, but I would have loved to hear my Dad’s take on this.
I loved Senator Akpabio’s administration when he was the Governor of my state. His administration favoured my family so well, and a lot of the favours we enjoy till date are from his administration. But yeah, good people can still do bad things, right? I wouldn’t want to go word for word, Natasha’s recount of her story with Godswill, but the statements he made according to her, how her motions in the parliament kept being overlooked, how the international conferences she was supposed to represent the country at were suddenly called off, how Godswill’s alleged response to her when she came to talk to him about it was, “You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.” It all sounded so familiar.
It’s scary that those who took to the streets are women. Women who do not know if he’s innocent, neither do they care. Women who are so willing to call another woman a disgrace because according to them and their placards, “This is not how the Bible taught women to act.” And I’m wondering, is it God that is clearly such a loving girl Dad that would want women to not call out their abusers?
I think people’s issue is more with the fact that she didn’t say something all the while and is now mentioning it. I pray never find myself in this situation but if I were, apart from my husband, I don’t think I would have spoken up at the alleged advances, but when this person is now trying to ruin my career for refusing to yield to his advances, definitely that’s where I have to speak up, right?
These women went on the streets to call Natasha names, in my humble opinion, not because they believe he is innocent, but because he is Godswill Akpabio, who was their favourite Governor. Nothing else. Natasha likening her case to that of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him, spoke deeply to me. Call it what you will. I do not have all the facts, because currently, it’s his word against hers. Or sorry, her words against his wife’s because he has refused to speak on the subject, but really guys, it says something that we want to brush this woman’s claims aside when she’s not the first woman to accuse him of this. The men cheering and laughing on the road while today's demonstration went on won no bonus points drom me.
Not sorry if this disappoints anyone, but I do believe that her claims are right. I do believe Senator Natasha was sexually harassed. And I do believe that she is now being stigmatized, ostracized and alienated by the rest of the senators because she has refused to bow to the wishes of the Senate President. I hope I don’t ever have to give political takes again, but this is where I stand, whether this case ends up being dismissed or not. Happy New Month.
All images are mine.
