You Can’t Be Harassed Once You Become A Senator – Former Lawmaker

• Says Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Harassment Claims Sign Of Weakness

A former Senator who represented Cross-River South Senatorial District, Florence Ita-Giwa, has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of sexual harassment, stating that women cannot be harassed once they become senators.

Ita-Giwa argued that it is a sign of weakness for female lawmakers to make such claims.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio frustrated her motions on Ajaokuta Steel Company because she refused his sexual advances.

However, Ita-Giwa while speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, 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.”

When asked if female lawmakers should remain silent about harassment from colleagues, Ita-Giwa, who is a former presidential adviser, insisted that making such allegations at that level reflects weakness.

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

She added, “I’m saying that it does not; it would not happen in the Senate, and it should not happen in the Senate and again, I’m not here to defend anybody in politics.”

She maintained that female senators should see themselves as equals to their male counterparts, emphasising that winning a senatorial election is no small feat.