Former senator claims it’s weakness to complain of sexual harassment as a Senator

Abdullateef Fowewe

A former senator and former presidential advise, Florence Ita-Giwa,  has faulted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment, claiming that women cannot be harassed once they join the Senate.

In an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa said it was ‘a sign of weakness’ for female senators to claim sexual harassment after attaining such a high political office.

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had last week alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio blocked her attempts to introduce motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State because she refused to grant him sexual favours.

However, the former lawmaker stated that women in the Senate should be empowered and confident enough to avoid such situations.

Ita-Giwa said, “By the time you contest elections and get to Senate, you have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed. You go there to serve, and you are all equal in that place.

“And again, it shows weakness; you don’t allow it. It (sexual harassment) can not happen in the Senate.

“I am not saying the lady is lying, but when you get to the Senate, you’re there as a person. You’re not there as a woman.

“At that stage in politics, if you come out and say someone is sexually harassing you, it is a weakness.”