Mrs. Nigeria Organisation, a non-profit with focus on the emancipation of vulnerable women and children in the country, has asked the Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godwin Akpabio, to vacate his ministerial position with immediate effect over what it described as breach of public trust and sexual endangerment of the women folks.
Failure to comply with this order, the group claimed, would lead to litigation, as its team of lawyers is currently gathering intelligence and building a case against the former Governor of Akwa Ibom.
Yesterday, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Joi Nunieh, on a television programme, alleged that Akpabio has organized the bombing of oil pipelines in the region because of his plan to create a chaos targeted at removing her.
Nunieh also claimed that she slapped the minister on his face for wanting to “forcefully come on me” at one of their meetings.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s Managing Director, Mrs. Sarah Anogwi and its Media Consultant, Mr. Bankole Shakirudeen Adeshina dated July 13, the NGO called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order a probe into the two allegations, saying such jaw-dropping revelation may be a tip of an iceberg into how Nigerian women are being frustrated and sexually molested by people in positions of power.
“While the nation still grapples with the shockwaves from the monumental stealing allegedly ascribed to the country’s supposed corruption czar, Ibrahim Magu, the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), and the mind-blowing amounts involved in the alleged international cybercrime by Raymond Abass, the allegation of sexual harassment publicly made against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godwin Akpabio, has become too much to bear.
“As a body committed to the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian women and children in the country, Mrs. Nigeria Organisation finds this too important to be swept under the carpet, especially as the country experiences rising cases of rape, domestic violence and marital-related homicides.
“Hence, given the magnitude of this allegation, and its devastating impact on the nations integrity and moral compass, we hereby call on Senator Akpabio to resign his appointment with immediate effect.”
The group said the revelation by Nunieh o,n Arise TV, has further exposed the experiences that women – especially those in public and private sector – go through in the hands of sexual predators in positions of control in Nigeria.
According to Mrs Nigeria Organisation, It’s a no-brainer why women are scared to aspire for leadership positions because some of their male counterpart sees them as sexual objects and are eager to take advantage.
“We quite commend the courage of Nunieh in having the strength to fight back to safety and speaking up, but they are a lot of women out there who are boxed in and don’t have enough strength to fight free from the hands of their sexual violators, i”t added.
Mrs. Nigeria Organisation is a Non-Bikini Beauty Queen Pageant organisation uniquely for beautiful, educated, economically innovative married women, with extended focus on the vulnerable women and children, through its i-CARE (I Create Awareness to Reduce Exposure) Initiative.