A former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has stirred controversy by claiming that the physical beauty of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan poses a challenge for her in politics, suggesting that men find it difficult to ignore her presence.
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Speaking on Arise News on Monday, Ogunlewe acknowledged the strength of female senators, emphasizing that they do not consider themselves inferior to men and confidently assert their positions in political discussions.
However, he singled out Senator Natasha, claiming that her striking appearance influences how men react to her.
“But the beauty of Distinguished Senator Natasha is a problem to her,” Ogunlewe stated.
When asked to clarify, he explained that men naturally react when an attractive woman is around.
“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 said.
Pressed further on why physical attractiveness should be considered a problem, Ogunlewe maintained that it is part of human nature.
“To men, when she’s passing, there’s no way a man will not look at that woman. 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?”
Despite pushback from the interviewer regarding whether his views were misogynistic, Ogunlewe defended his stance, insisting that his remarks were not meant to undermine Senator Natasha’s competence but rather to highlight an undeniable reality of human behavior.
“It may be, you might term it that way, but it is inbuilt,” he concluded.
His comments have since sparked discussions on sexism in politics, with many questioning whether a woman’s physical appearance should ever be considered a factor in her political journey.