Former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has ignited controversy with his remarks suggesting that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s physical appearance poses a challenge for her in politics.
Ogunlewe made the statement during an interview on Arise News on Monday while discussing the Senate’s recent suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged rule violations.
Addressing the role of female senators in the political space, Ogunlewe acknowledged their assertiveness and ability to engage confidently in legislative discussions. However, he argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s beauty influences how men react to her.
“But the beauty of Distinguished Senator Natasha is a problem to her,” Ogunlewe remarked. When asked to clarify, he suggested that men naturally take notice of attractive women, saying, “You know, men—when somebody who is pretty passes by you, your attitude will change. You can smile, you can wink, but you may not talk to her. But her beauty is a problem, there’s no doubt about that.”
He further defended his perspective, insisting that male attention toward attractive women is an innate response. “It is a natural thing for a man to look at beautiful women. How can you be a man and a beautiful woman is passing and you close your eyes?”
Ogunlewe’s comments have sparked mixed reactions, with critics questioning whether a female politician’s physical appearance should be a point of discussion in a professional setting.
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