Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan: The Woman Who Runs With The Wolves In Nigeria’s Political Jungle -By Isaac Asabor

Before Natasha got engulfed in the ongoing controversy with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, I had been following her on Facebook, observing her fearless advocacy and unwavering stance on issues affecting women. One particular post of hers stood out to me, a book she shared titled “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. That single post spoke volumes about her personality and the depth of her convictions.  

There is a saying that you are what you read, and in Natasha’s case, this could not be more accurate. Having read the online epilogue of the book myself, I understand why she remains relentless in her struggle for the betterment and rights of women. The book is a powerful exploration of the wild, untamed spirit of women, urging them to reclaim their strength and resist oppression. Seeing Natasha’s tenacity in the face of political intimidation, I am not surprised, she embodies the very essence of the book’s message.

Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés is a deeply insightful book that explores the instinctual nature of women through myths, folklore, and storytelling. Drawing from her background as a Jungian psychoanalyst and storyteller, Estés examines how modern society suppresses women’s natural instincts, creativity, and power. She argues that within every woman exists a “Wild Woman” archetype, an untamed, wise, and free spirit that has been buried by cultural expectations and patriarchal norms. Through the book, she encourages women to reconnect with this primal essence, reclaiming their intuition, strength, and emotional depth.

The book is structured around various myths and fairy tales from different cultures, each analyzed through a psychological and feminist lens. Stories such as “Bluebeard,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “La Loba” serve as metaphors for the struggles women face in navigating personal growth, relationships, and self-expression. Estés interprets these tales to show how women can recognize and break free from self-destructive patterns, societal constraints, and internalized oppression. She emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s intuition, embracing the cycles of life, and understanding the symbolic language of the psyche.

A central theme of Women Who Run with the Wolves is healing and transformation. Estés argues that many women suffer from emotional wounds caused by societal conditioning, trauma, and self-doubt. However, by engaging with ancient wisdom and storytelling, they can embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. She presents the Wild Woman archetype as a guide for navigating life’s challenges with resilience, passion, and authenticity. Through practices like solitude, creative expression, and deep introspection, women can reconnect with their true selves and live more fulfilling lives.

Ultimately, the book is a call to awaken the wild, intuitive nature that exists within every woman. It challenges women to reject fear, self-sabotage, and external limitations in favor of a life that honors their deepest desires and instincts. Estés’ poetic and powerful writing serves as both a mirror and a map, reflecting women’s inner struggles while guiding them toward liberation and self-acceptance. Women Who Run with the Wolves is more than just a book; it is a spiritual and psychological manifesto that has inspired countless women to reclaim their strength, creativity, and independence.

Against the backdrop of the book, there is no denying the fact that Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s recent experiences; both from Senator Akpabio, fellow women who were allegedly hired to protest against her, the Senate leadership which suspended her, and African tradition towards women, find expression in the theme of the book.  

Without a doubt, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s recent experiences mirror the struggles of the Wild Woman archetype as described in Women Who Run with the Wolves. As earlier mentioned, Estés speaks of how society has historically suppressed women’s instincts, power, and rightful place in leadership, often subjecting them to unjust scrutiny and resistance. Natasha’s political journey, especially her recent suspension from the Senate and the orchestrated attacks against her, embodies this very struggle. Her boldness in challenging the status quo, exposing corruption, and refusing to be silenced represents the spirit of the Wild Woman, fierce, resilient, and unwilling to conform to oppressive structures. However, as Estés highlights, when a woman dares to reclaim her power, she is often met with hostility, just as Natasha has experienced. 

In fact, her ordeal with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate leadership is reminiscent of the way patriarchal systems react when a woman asserts herself. Akpabio’s reported targeting of Natasha, culminating in her suspension, is a classic example of how institutions attempt to silence women who refuse to play by the unwritten rules of submission. This aligns with Women Who Run with the Wolves, where Estés discusses how society punishes women who challenge authority, labeling them as troublemakers or undeserving of leadership. The Senate’s actions against Natasha reflect an age-old resistance to female authority, a reality that has played out across generations and cultures, especially in African political spaces where women are often seen as secondary to men.

One of the most telling aspects of Natasha’s ordeal is the fact that fellow women were reportedly hired to protest against her. This mirrors a tragic theme in Women Who Run with the Wolves: how oppressed women, instead of breaking free, sometimes become instruments of the very system that suppresses them. Estés discusses how women, due to social conditioning, can internalize misogyny and work against their own liberation, consciously or unconsciously. The hired protesters represent a societal structure where women are pitted against one another to maintain the status quo. Rather than standing in solidarity with Natasha as a trailblazer, these women became tools in a power play designed to discredit and weaken her.

Beyond the immediate politics, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s struggles reflect a broader African tradition that has historically been skeptical of women in leadership. While African cultures celebrate women’s strength in domestic and communal roles, many still resist the idea of women holding significant political power. Like the myths in Estés’ book, African folklore is filled with stories of powerful women who were either demonized or suppressed. Natasha’s battle is not just against Akpabio or the Senate, it is against centuries of deeply ingrained beliefs that limit women’s influence in governance. However, as Women Who Run with the Wolves teaches, true power lies in resilience, wisdom, and the courage to reclaim one’s rightful place. Natasha, like the Wild Woman, stands as a symbol of defiance against these barriers, forging a path for other women to follow.