Sexual Harassment: Women Group To Hold One Million Man March, Demands Akpabio’s Resignation
A group known as Women Rights and Justice Forum (WRJF) a coalition of women associations working to protect the interest of women with members across the 36 states of Nigeria, says it has concluded arrangements to storm the Federal Capital Territory on Monday, March 10 to hold one million people march
The one million man march is said to be in protest against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the alleged harassment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
According to the Women’s Rights group, part of the reason it resolved to embark on the protest is a call for the resignation of the Senator President.
The group said it has already commenced mobilization of women to come out in support of Natasha and will remain on the roads until President Bola Ahmed and the National Assembly remove Senator Akpabio from the highly exalted position of Senate President.
It could be recalled that the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uguaghan had accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
She also alleged that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard on the floor of the Senate because she rejected his advances.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator of Women Rights and Justice Forum, Hajiya Hauwa Suleiman Usman, the women, who condemned the act of sexual harassment of women in public offices disclosed that “The Million People March will be the first of a series of protests to call for the resignation of the Senator Akpabio, who allegedly harassed a woman”.
The statement reads: “The decision to embark on the One Million Man March is equally to make a strong statement that women will no longer tolerate such oppressions and harassment against women in politics.
“We have waited and watched with keen interest to see if the Senate President will tow the honorable lane and apologize to Natasha after she was compelled to speak out on Arise Television, but we later discovered that some of the lawmakers and members of the public have taken a side against her.
“As women, we have decided to unite to stop these overt attempts to shut women down and make them second-class citizens in their own country.
“To serve as a deterrent to other men, we resolved to not only talk but take decisive action to ensure that Senator Akpabio suffers for his actions to harass and undermine a woman for rejecting sexual advances.
“Senator Akpabio must resign or we remain on the roads till he does so. The Coalition group stated
About the Author
