Urging Nigerian Women To Emulate Ezekwesili In Rallying Behind Natasha -By Isaac Asabor

In the annals of Nigeria’s political history, courage has always had a price, and when that courage comes from a woman, the price is often doubled. This truth now stares us in the face as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan stands firm in her petition against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, alleging sexual harassment and abuse of power. What she is enduring is not merely political backlash; it is a coordinated assault aimed at silencing a voice too bold for the liking of Nigeria’s old guard.

In this moment of trial, one voice has risen with clarity, boldness, and unshakable moral conviction, the voice of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, reputed to be one of Nigeria’s most principled voices in public discourse. In a powerful tweet, Ezekwesili reminded Senator Natasha, and indeed all Nigerians, that she is “not alone”. “You. Will. Never. Walk. Alone,” she declared. This was not just solidarity; it was a call to action.

Ezekwesili’s statement is a masterclass in principled leadership. She went beyond the usual performative concern and took a firm stance, openly calling out the Senate President and the cabal of political enablers attempting to drown out Natasha’s demand for justice. Her voice represents what every well-meaning, justice-seeking Nigerian, particularly women, should echo, that no woman who dares to speak out should ever be left to walk through the storm alone.

Unfortunately, this moment has also exposed an uncomfortable truth about the nature of female solidarity in Nigeria, or rather, the lack of it. While Ezekwesili and a few courageous women from bodies like FIDA (Federation of International Women Lawyers) have thrown their weight behind Natasha, some women, especially within political circles, have shamefully aligned with her traducers. Rather than lend their voices to justice, they have chosen to serve as foot soldiers of a rotten system, eager to protect power over principle, and loyalty to men over loyalty to truth.

We must ask: “What is the cost of silence?” What does it mean when women, who should instinctively understand the weight of Natasha’s burden, choose to protect the status quo, either out of fear, political expediency, or sheer envy? What does it say of a society where women climb the ladder of power only to pull it up behind them?

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s battle is not hers alone. It represents the lived experience of countless Nigerian women, in government, in the corporate world, in academia, and in everyday life, who have been subjected to sexual harassment, intimidation, and gas lighting by men in powerful positions. Her decision to speak up against the Senate President is therefore not just personal. It is symbolic. It is a direct challenge to a deeply entrenched culture of impunity.

Oby Ezekwesili’s intervention is thus timely and necessary. She reminds us that fighting injustice, particularly gender-based injustice, should not be optional. It must be instinctive, non-negotiable, and absolute. “No amount of money, not even all the wealth in every Central Bank in the world, can buy my convictions, voice, and stance,” she wrote. These words should shame every Nigerian woman who has looked the other way in the face of this injustice, especially those in power who have chosen cowardice over courage.

Now is the time for all decent women, and men of conscience, to rise. This is more than a political issue; it is a moral and institutional test. If we fail Natasha, we fail every woman who dares to report a powerful predator. If we trivialize her allegation or let it be buried under manufactured lies and distraction tactics, we send a dangerous signal that Nigeria is not ready to protect its women, not even those with a mandate from the people.

Let us not forget that Senator Natasha has consistently faced smear campaigns, character assassination, and attempts to delegitimize her for daring to be outspoken, competent, and fearless in a space where many women are expected to be silent ornaments. The sexual harassment allegation she has raised against Senator Akpabio should trigger not just outrage but institutional action. A fair, transparent, and independent investigation must be carried out. Anything short of that is a disservice not just to Natasha but to the spirit of justice itself.

We have reached a fork in the road, where Nigerian women must decide who they are. Will they be enablers of oppression, just because the oppressor shares their party affiliation or fills their pockets? Or will they be defenders of justice, truth, and sisterhood?

To the silent majority of Nigerian women in politics, in civil service, and in the legal and media spaces, now is your time to speak. History is watching. The next generation of women is watching. Will you be counted among the bold, like Ezekwesili, or among the cowardly chorus of betrayers?

Let us be clear: injustice to one is injustice to all. If Natasha is crushed under the weight of a system that shields the powerful and punishes the brave, then we all lose. But if we rally, raise our voices, and refuse to be cowed, we not only protect her, we protect the future.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, this fight is bigger than you, and yet, you carry it with the grace and grit of a true warrior. In standing for yourself, you are standing for every girl and woman who has ever been told to shut up and endure. You are not alone. And you never will be.

Let justice rise, not as a whisper, but as a thunderous roar from every corner of Nigeria. Enough is enough.