Sex in politics Editorial
Monday, March 12, 2007

A female Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial district, Mrs. Iyabo Anisulowo, was recently reported to have passed a damning verdict on the moral rectitude of the top officials of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She alleged that most of the women who got to the top in politics had to succumb to sexual advances of some leaders of the ruling party. And according to her, women that attempted to show that they had self-esteem often had their political ambitions frustrated by the lecherous men in positions of power.

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Senator Anisulowo recalled her personal experience when her quest to secure a second term ticket to the Senate under the aegis of the PDP was frustrated by an influential chieftain of the party whose sexual advances, she claimed, she had earlier spurned.

THE senator alleged further that the top hierarchy of the ruling party was made up of lascivious men who would only support women politicians that could offer themselves for sex. The pastime of the top hierarchy of the party, according to her, was to pass their female members from one man to the other.The Senator had made a very serious allegation against the PDP hierarchy and women within the party and those who have benefited from the government. The implication is that the nation is not only contending with corrupt and deceitful politicians but also morally bankrupt personalities in the corridors of power. The allegation also belittles the womenfolk as nothing but sex objects. It suggests that women with interest in politics cannot aspire to or attain great political heights without satisfying the irresponsible sexual desires of some filthy men or the so-called powerbrokers.

Senator Anisulowo’s allegation has also cast a shroud of doubt over the personality, ability and fidelity of women in top positions, particularly in the public sector.

Nevertheless, the allegation naturally elicits some salient questions. For instance, how credible is her allegation? Is she crying foul now because she lost out in the PDP primary election that would have allowed her to make a go at returning to the Senate? If she had not lost the primary election, would she have levelled this allegation against the party? Could it be that she herself was able to go as far as she did because she yielded to the amorous advances of the PDP powerbrokers? Could it be true that all female public servants belonging to PDP have been compromised including a few that have shown some measure of courage and Spartan discipline in the discharge of their duties?

Incidence of sexual harassment is not restricted to party politics. It exists almost in every organisation. There are often claims and counter-claims of sexual harassment of female staff members by their bosses. Though the antecedents and activities of some top members of the ruling party or of some politicians generally may suggest sexual irresponsibility, it would be wrong to make a sweeping generalization that tends to suggest that infidelity is institutionalized in the PDP and party politics generally. The alleged exchange of sex for favours though highly condemnable is most probably an individual rather than a group affair.

Again, it is unsafe to assume that every woman in a position of power must have compromised her self-worth before getting to the top. Sexual harassment is a common challenge that women have had to contend with in the pursuit of their careers both in the public and private sectors. What is required are women of strong character, principle and courage who will stand up to rebuff the immoral advances of men of little minds in the public and private sectors irrespective of the cost of doing so.

Senator Anisulowo has made a very damning allegation. It is damning because it seems to have rubbished the commendable performance of women in positions of authority. We urge the Nigerian Council of Women Society (NCWS) and other women organisations to probe the allegation. If it is true that women are being used as sex objects by male politicians, these organisations should exploit constitutional means to address the problem to protect the integrity and value of womanhood.

HOWEVER, if Senator Anisulowo is discovered to have made a frivolous allegation to score a cheap political point, then she should be heavily sanctioned. The nation’s political terrain is already polluted and should not be made murkier. The current limited participation of women in politics will continue if, indeed, it has become a norm in Nigeria’s political circles for women to compromise their bodies to get anywhere.