The former minister of works, Mr Adeseye Ogunlewe said the embattled senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is beautiful and for that reason men would naturally not take their eyes off her.
Ogunlewe stated this when he appeared on Arise News yesterday.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan is embroiled in a controversy surrounding the sexual harassment allegations he leveled against the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio.
She was suspended for six months, effective March 6, the consideration of a report presented by the chairman of the senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, Mr Neda Imasuen.
However, senate leader Mr Opeyemi Bamidele denied that her suspension had to do with the sexual harassment allegation.
Opeyemi explained that the Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended “solely for her persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended) and gross indiscipline-nothing more, nothing less.”
Weighing in on the matter, Ogunlewe said senator’s beauty has become a problem for her in politics as men find it difficult to ignore her presence whenever she walks past.
“The beauty of distinguished Senator Natasha is a problem for her because when someone beautiful passes by men, their (men) attitudes change. They can smile, but they may not talk to her. But Natasha’s beauty is a problem for her, and there’s no doubt about that.
“To men, when she (Natasha) is passing, there’s no way they will not look at her, but they may not talk to her. It’s a natural thing for men to look at a beautiful woman because how can you be a man, and when a beautiful woman is passing, you close your eyes? You might tag it as anything, but it’s inborn for men to look at women when they pass by.”
He contended that it is natural for men to notice attractive women, stressing that Natasha’s physical appearance sets her apart in a way that affects how men react to her.
On the suspension of the Kogi central lawmaker, Ogunlewe condemned the action of the senate, saying during his time as a senator, female senators did not perceive themselves as inferior to their male counterparts, citing Mrs Florence Ita- Giwa and others as examples.
“The harassment didn’t happen in the Senate because she said it happened when she visited Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s home, and that’s a different matter. The committee rushed the whole process because they knew what they were doing.
“They knew that they had to consult widely because there’s a committee on judiciary and legal matters in the senate that should have looked into the matter and said the suspension was impossible. There is precedent because how can you commit an offence and know it’s against the law?” he added.
He also faulted the conditions attached to the suspension, alleging that the committee’s chairman was being influenced.
“One does not doubt that the committee’s Chairman was under the influence of the Senate President.
