Opinion
A Mistral Of Misogyny At The National Assembly, by Kene Obiezu
Misogyny recently ran amok at the Senate with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio telling a female legislator that she could take to the floor of the senate without being invited as it was not a nightclub.
For many Nigerians, Godswill Akpabio’s time as senate president has been an unmitigated disaster. His gaffe about sending ‘prayers’ to the mailboxes of his colleagues shortly after the resumption of the 10th National Assembly rubbed Nigerians the wrong way at a time they were trying to adjust to the removal of fuel subsidy.
His time as senate president has so far failed to inspire. Neither has he shown any sign that the Senate under his leadership will improve the lives of Nigerians through law-making.
Where Akpabio has been uncomfortable selflessly serving Nigerians through the business of lawmaking, his grandiose official lifestyle has irked Nigerians at a time when more and more families are seeing their menu diminished by the rising cost of living.
Rather than focus on improving the fortunes of Nigerians through law making, Akpabio, notwithstanding a belated apology, has refined the art of singling out his female colleagues for humiliation.
Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party was the first to feel Akpabio’s wrath.
No sooner had the first time senator who has since become a thorn in the flesh of the current government minister risen to speak than she was hushed by Akpabio who must have grown uncomfortable by the courage she puts into representing her people.
Senator Kingibe’s experience was to prove a mere dress rehearsal for what was to happen to her female colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti who represents Kogi Central in the 10th National Assembly. For speaking out of turn, Akpabio had warned Akpoti not to speak as if she were in a nightclub.
The storm generated by the chillingly misogynistic comment may have forced Akpabio to apologize but his comments which objectified a female senator is bound to have an enduring implication on the psyche of female legislators and the efforts women are making to be counted in politics and public life.
The women Akpabio has publicly ridiculed deserve to be celebrated for the remarkable journeys they have made to the National Assembly.
In February 2023,Senator Akpoti defied the odious politics of then Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to win the Kogi Central Senatorial District. Even when her victory was stolen, she resorted to court where she was finally declared winner. Having already frustrated the mechanics of patriarchy to be able to stand on the floor of the Red Chambers, Akpabio should have been more restrained in his language, which did not reflect well on the leader of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Senator Ireti Kingibe was a product of the mini revolution that gripped Nigeria during the last election. She rode the wave to dislodge Philip Aduda who had been senator for twenty years with nothing to show for it. She also led her party, the Labour Party, to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party for the first time in twenty years. Since she became senator, she has shown a fearless that belies her position as a first-time member of the National Assembly.
Akpabio is not alone in his thinly disguised disdain for women. Some months ago, Abdumalik Sarkin Daji, speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly offered to sponsor the wedding of one hundred girls orphaned by bandits. He was rightly and severely criticized for seeing marriage as the only option for girls affected by conflict.
Women in Nigeria remain unjustifiably underrepresented in politics and public life. This is despite the fact that they have remained unflaggingly committed to Nigeria’s democracy especially at the grassroots.
Akpabio has apologised but it is doubtful that a terse statement from his office can repair the damage done or alter the view he has adopted about women. His remorse will be meaningless is he spends his tenure as senate president making laws that promote gender equality and gender justice.
This will truly appease every woman and every Nigerian affronted by his carelessness.
He should also advocate for full compliance with the National Gender Policy. As Senate President, rather than diminish women, Akpabio can make them more visible in the National Assembly by assigning them positions they are more than capable of filling.
He should also prevail on President Tinubu and all state governors to reserve 35% of all appointments for women.
The world has moved on from the days when women were created and destroyed on the drunken tongues of those for whom derogating women is sport.
For men who see women as little more than spent banana leaves used to wrap okpa, countries around the world have shown that there can be no development without women. Countries who have been visionary enough to carry their women along have continued to make great strides in several key areas that indicate development and good quality of life.
The National Assembly under Akpabio should push for the full implementation of the Child Rights, unconditional protection of all girl children as well as shame those states that have refused to adopt the Act more than twenty years since it was passed. Doing this would outstrip any apology.
Kene Obiezu,
