It is the usual script of disgruntled, vengeful and vindictive persons to go for the jugular when their disputes with others get out of hand.
By then all bets are off and the next objective is to totally destroy the image and reputation of their opponents or adversaries by any means necessary no matter how ruthless or extreme they may be.
Thus, the recent accusations of sexual harassment made against the Senate President, Dr Godswill Akpabio by a visibly aggrieved Senator Natasha Akpoti can be seen in this light as public attention has clearly shifted from the salient issues at stake to the personality disposition of the Senate President. Few are interested in whether the standing rules and regulations of the Senate were breached by Senator Natasha’s rather overheated responses as eyebrows are now being raised as to the moral inclinations of the nation’s No 3 Citizen. Unfortunately, this bizarre turn of events is what the patently baseless, unfounded and spurious allegations of Senator Natasha was meant to achieve; by distracting from serious analysis of Senate standing rules and procedures to social media gossip and beer parlour ruminations as to who sexually molested whom, when and why!
But let us not be fooled by malicious allegations meant to tarnish the image of hardworking and diligent public servants doing their best to uplift the people in the crucial scheme of things.
Why did Senator Natasha not immediately expose the alleged sexual overtures of the Senate President when it was supposedly made months or years ago?
Why did she not file a complaint against the Senate President before the Senate Ethics, Power and Privileges Committee? Why did Senator Natasha not alert the ubiquitous civil, gender and human rights groups when the alleged amorous overtures were made?
Why did she wait months and years later when she had a public spat with the Senate President to lay bare her accusations?
As the legal principle of Volenti Non-Fit Injuria asserts, a silent or acquiescent plaintiff can hardly claim damages for an alleged wrong inflicted by a respondent after a period of complacency.
Senator Natasha, a married woman of long standing should know better than to keep silent in the face of an alleged attempt to compromise her matrimonial fidelity.
All the more reason to believe that the sexual overture allegations are meant to blackmail, discredit and tarnish the image and reputation of the Senate President thus reducing his estimation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.
The ultimate endgame of Senator Akpabio’s traducers is to trigger his abrupt resignation and the subsequent installation of a fresh Senate leadership more in tune with certain reactionary circles in the country.
However, the vast majority of Nigerians cannot be fooled by such contrived shenanigans to impose an unpopular diktat on the people and remain solidly and steadfastly behind the Senator Godswill Akpabio leadership of the National Assembly as it goes the extra mile to deliver crucial dividends of democracy to our long-suffering citizenry.
Enough of the social media gossip and more focus and attention on good governance, credible representation and effective lawmaking as Nigerians deserve nothing less and much more. This is no time for idle gossip or irreverent chatter but a time to deliver credible governance and astute leadership to our beloved people.
To God be the Glory.
JOY GYARKOR, A GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST WROTE IN FROM MAKURDI, BENUE STATE.
