Former Senator for the Cross River South Senatorial District of Cross River State, Florence Ita-Giwa believes Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that she was sexually harassed portrays weakness.

Ita-Giwa made this known in an interview on Tuesday, March 4 as she waded into the controversy that has rocked Nigeria's Upper Chamber.

According to her, women in politics especially those in the Senate should present themselves as strong and unapproachable to avoid such situations.

Addressing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of sexual harassment, Ita-Giwa expressed disappointment in how the issue was raised.

“At that stage in the Senate, if you come and say that somebody is sexually harassing you, it’s a weakness. You make yourself unapproachable. You don’t let anybody take you around and show you things… You don’t allow it.”

“It is the worst sign of weakness on a woman’s part. You understand? For you to come out and accuse a man or accuse a man of making passes at that level,” she added.

Ita-Giwa stated during the interview that she does not believe in affirmative action and has never identified herself as a woman in politics but rather as a person. She said,

“I presented myself as a person. Once you go to that arena, you present yourself as a person… You have passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed. Yes, by the time you go there and pass, you have passed that. So you are all equal in that Senate. Yes, you are all equal, It is out of order. Again, it shows weakness, you don’t allow it.”

“It cannot happen in the senate, im not saying the lady is lying but again, when you get to senate, you are there as a person, you are not there as a man or woman. It doesn’t matter what you are carrying between you.”