EXTRA: Natasha Akpoti’s beauty a problem for her in senate, says ex-minister

Adeseye Ogunlewe, a former senator, says Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s good looks may well be working against her in the upper legislative chamber.

Ogunlewe represented Lagos east in the senate from 1999 to 2003. He was minister of works in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration from 2003 to 2006.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her.

The allegation was preceded by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outburst against Akpabio over seating arrangement.

The female lawmaker was suspended on March 6 over the seat reallocation altercation.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, Ogunlewe said Akpoti-Udughan’s beauty is now a problem for her in the male dominated 10th senate.

Only four lawmakers in the 109-member senate are women.

“The beauty of distinguished senator Natasha is a problem for her. You know men, when somebody who is pretty passes by you, your attitude will change. You can smile, you can wink, but you may not talk to her,” the ex-minister said.

“Her beauty is a problem. There is no doubt about that.

“To men, when she is passing, there is no way a man would not look at that woman. It is a natural thing for a man to look at beautiful women. How can you be a man and a beautiful woman is passing and you close your eyes?”

Ogunlewe said past female senators never perceived themselves as inferior to their male counterparts.

Speaking of Florence Ita-Giwa, his former colleague in the senate, he said: “If you even mentioned that Ita-Giwa is a woman, the response you were going to get would make you ashamed of yourself because they would stand up to you,” he said.

He lamented that Nigeria’s political terrain does not allow for competent individuals who lack financial resources.

The politician noted that for most women in politics, running for federal legislative positions is prohibitive because of the associated costs.

“For a woman to fight to be a senator in Nigeria, we are talking about N50 billion to start with,” he said.