The National Assembly is in the news again and for the wrong reasons. This time, the Senate is facing its own music. Last Sunday, a ranking senator, a three-time governor of Sharia-compliant Yobe State and the kingmaker of the Boko Haram ravaged North East state, Abba Bukar Ibrahim, got his fingers burnt.

Like a spoilt child, who has been over pampered by his rich parents, undistinguished Sexnator Ibrahim, called its bluff and shamelessly told Nigerians to go and die. Rather than throw in the towel, quietly go home and enjoy his pension, Ibrahim, who survives on tax payers’ money, told Nigerians he did nothing wrong.

For folks who may have forgotten, let me remind you. Last Sunday, Sahara Reporters published a scandalous video, which was roughly two minutes long. It showed Ibrahim reaching for his underwear, possibly after emerging from the shower.

In the room which is not fit for a pauper, talk less of a ranking federal lawmaker, one of the two women in the video held a mobile device, apparently used in capturing the sex romp. Unlike our virile lawmaker whose manhood was on public display, the other two ladies seen in the video were fully kitted.

The arrogant lawmaker, told an online newspaper that he had not committed any official wrongdoing and the video was only made public after attempts to blackmail him failed.

Hear our lawmaker: “This is a personal, private matter. What does my having been with a girl have to do with the public? You know the normal thing. People ask for unreasonable things, and if you deny them, they try to blackmail you if they have a way.”

Ibrahim, who is one of the idle lawmakers in the Red Chamber, took his insult to another height. He suddenly developed amnesia and feigned ignorance that he could not remember where or when the sexual activity took place, but the room appeared like a typical motel accommodation.

As far as our lawmaker is concerned, he owes no one an explanation since he was not accused of any crime.

“If they say I raped, that is a different matter altogether. Is it because I am a public official then I am not supposed to be entitled to private life?” he asked shamelessly.

Just when we thought we had enough from him, he took his joke further. He said he knew when one of the women was filming him, but was told it was only for fun and they also wanted to illuminate the room with a camera.

“They just mentioned it to me as a joke and I took it as nothing really serious. This is something that happened between two adults. I have commenced investigations to find out why it is circulating. But from all indications, it is blackmail,” he was quoted to have said.

Mr. sexnator, I disrespectfully disagree with you. You lost the right to a private life the day you opted to seek public office. You cannot eat your cake and have it. If there is any iota of honour left in you sir, I expect you to resign and visit a rehab.

Before I take on the hypocrisy of the leadership of the Senate, let me remind Ibrahim how civilized politicians behave in other climes. I will restrict my examples to the United States of America, since our democracy is modeled after their system of government.

Ed Schrock, a member of the United States Congress, announced he would abort his 2004 attempt for a third term as a member of the House of Representatives, after allegedly being caught on tape soliciting sex from a male prostitute. Pay attention please. That is not all. 

Mark Foley, another Congressman, resigned his House seat when he was accused of sending sexually explicit emails to teenage male congressional pages.

A United States senator, John Ensign, resigned his position as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee on June 16, 2009, after admitting he had an affair with the wife of a close friend, both of whom were working on his campaign. Under investigation, he then resigned his Senate seat 20 months early in 2011. Eric Massa, a member of the United States Congress, resigned to avoid an ethics investigation after admitting groping and tickling of multiple male staffers in 2010.

Mark Souder, a Congressman and a staunch advocate of abstinence and family values, resigned to avoid an ethics investigation into his admitted extramarital affair with a female staffer in 2010.

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Chris Lee, a Congressman, resigned hours after a news report that he had sent a shirtless picture of himself flexing his muscles to a woman through Craigslist, along with flirtatious emails in 2011.

David Wu, a Congressman, resigned from the House of Representatives after being accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a fundraiser’s daughter. This happened on July 26, 2011.

Anthony Weiner, a Congressman, admitted to sending sexually suggestive photos of himself to several women through his Twitter account. He resigned from Congress on June 16, 2011.

I hope when and if Ibrahim reads this piece, he will understand how honourable men behave in civilized climes. He must be advised to either hold his peace or throw in the towel and honourably resign.

I am also worried that the leadership of the Senate, headed by Senator Bukola Saraki, is keeping a loud silence. Why is no one talking about it? Is this a tactical approval that politicians who cannot control their libidos or keep their dirty secrets can get away with murder?

Ali Ndume who was hurriedly suspended by the Senate did not denigrate the Red Chamber like Ibrahim has done. Yet, his suspension was given a speedy hearing and without any delay, he was shown the way out. Is Saraki’s Senate shielding our  sexnator? This must not be allowed to go unchallenged.

The closest we have had is from Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Chairman of Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Following the release of the scandalous video, Anyanwu told an online newspaper that he had not been fully briefed of Ibrahim’s sex romp.

Like Waiting for Goddot, Anyanwu said he would wait until the entire Senate gives him instruction on how to proceed. It is clear that Ibrahim is in the class of the untouchables. He may walk free in the end. The National Assembly is gradually becoming a citadel of sex scandals. Barely a year ago, a former United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, accused three serving members of the House of Representatives of sexual misconduct.The diplomat who petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, alleged that the lawmakers solicited sex from prostitutes and hotel workers during a leadership training assignment in Ohio, in midwestern United States. In the petition, Entwistle claimed that he had evidence to nail Mohammed Galolo, Samuel Ikon and Mark Gbillah of the sexual offences.

He accused the trio of improper conduct, attempted rape and soliciting for prostitutes during their sojourn in the US. The affected lawmakers denied all the allegations and threatened to sue the ambassador and the US government for defamation, describing it as a calculated attempt to ridicule the National Assembly. 

In a paddy paddy style, the three House members were cleared after its Ethics and Privileges Committee submitted its report. An enlightened Nigerian is not oblivious of illicit sex romps politicians get involved in. It’s often argued that politicians find solace in sex, drugs and alcohol. There are however exceptions. Whatever you do in your closet is your business. But please, be generous enough to kick yourself out when your secret misdeeds become public knowledge. 

I so submit!

One more thing…

On Wednesday, Southern Senators’ Forum, elected its new leaders to champion the affairs of the group till the end of the 8th Senate.

The new chairman is Senator Hope Uzodinma who heads the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise. Other members of the executive include Senators Stella Oduah, Matthew Urhoghide, Mao Ohuabunwa, Solomon Adeola, among others.

Briefing Senate Correspondents after its meeting, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the group has decided to elect new leaders so as to enable southern lawmakers take uniform positions on issues affecting the three geopolitical zones of South East, South South and South West.

Akpabio said southern lawmakers would no longer fold its hands and allow issues affecting them to go on unresolved. He said going forward; their people will get quality representation.