By Adesina Soyooye
“As a matter of sensitivity, for the Senate to endorse a man who faces cases like that (se*ual harassment) would amount to being insensitive to the feelings of women because it’s not just one woman; there are two women making different allegations” – Oshiomhole
On Thursday, Senator Adams Oshiomhole disagreed with the Senate President over the confirmation of Professor Abayomi Fasina as a non-career ambassadorial designate.
Recall that Professor Fasina, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, FUOYE has alleged se*ual harassment cases hanging on his neck, which are still in Court.
The allegations were made against him by two women, both staff members of the University.
Not a few people were, therefore, surprised when President Bola Tinubu forwarded his name to the Senate for confirmation as a non-career Ambassador nominee. They felt it was untidy.
On the day of his screening and subsequent confirmation, women groups stormed the National Assembly in protest.
While others ignored the allegations, Oshiomhole stood tall. He agreed with the protesting women,
Speaking on the floor of the Senate Chambers during the confirmation hearing of the whole, Oshiomhole was strongly of the opinion that endorsing a nominee facing se*ual harassment allegations sends a wrong message, especially, to Nigerian women.
He said: “Nigerian women have brought to the attention of this Senate that the Professor in question has been accused by two women, not just orally, and these issues are pending before different courts.
“I think the general view is that nobody says he is guilty; he is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
“But, as a matter of sensitivity, for the Senate to endorse a man who faces cases like that would amount to being insensitive to the feelings of women because it’s not just one woman; there are two women making different allegations.
“So, I thought that in matters like this, it would be more prudent to wait and ask the man to clear himself before the Court.”
Neither the protests by the women, nor Senator Oshiomhole’s opinion, cut any ice with the Senate.
Professor Fasina was confirmed.
He is now an Ambassador-designate, waiting for posting to represent Nigeria as its face.
His confirmation followed the presentation of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to the whole Senate body.
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