“Her Beauty Is a Problem, Men Find It Difficult to Overlook Her Appearance”: Ogunlewe Comments on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Political Challenges

In a recent interview on Arise News, former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, stirred debate with his remarks about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suggesting that her physical beauty poses a challenge for her in the political space. According to Ogunlewe, men often find it difficult to overlook her appearance, which he believes affects how she is perceived and treated in political settings.

Ogunlewe, who served in the National Assembly, stated that female senators generally do not see themselves as inferior to their male colleagues and often match them in confidence and capability. “The female senators did not look at themselves as if they were inferior to men. They were even up to the task,” he said, noting their assertiveness during legislative engagements.

However, he singled out Akpoti-Uduaghan, claiming that her beauty makes interactions with male colleagues more complex. “But the beauty of Distinguished Senator Natasha is a problem to her,” Ogunlewe said, adding that men’s behavior often shifts in her presence. “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.”

When challenged on whether such a perspective was appropriate or potentially misogynistic, Ogunlewe maintained that his comments reflected natural human behavior. “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?” he argued. “It may be, you might term it that way, but it is inbuilt.”