First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has emphasized that the Senate chamber is a place of honour and should not be a platform for controversy. Her remarks come amid ongoing sexual harassment allegations by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking to journalists ahead of International Women’s Day, the First Lady urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership roles and not allow themselves to be sidelined.
“I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may say, why am I not taking a position? I believe that the Senate is doing what is needful, because that’s what it is,” she said.
“We shouldn’t be hearing things like that. It’s a mature chamber, and it should be treated with respect. It’s an honour for you to be in that place alone,” she added.
Reflecting on her 12-year tenure as a senator, the First Lady encouraged women to stand firm and not tolerate disrespect. “Women, raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow. You can always shut them down before they start,” she advised.
She also acknowledged the significant progress women have made over the decades, from the matriarchs of old to contemporary figures like Zuriel Oduwole, who champions peace. The First Lady urged Nigerian women to continue lifting their heads high and excelling in their endeavors.
The controversy began on February 20 when Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate on the Senate floor over seating arrangements. Akpoti-Uduaghan later alleged that her troubles in the Senate stemmed from her rejection of Akpabio’s sexual advances. She submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio, but the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges rejected it, citing breaches of due process and legal limitations.
