Sex, Power, and Politics: How Libido Threatens the Nigerian State

The intricate relationship between sex, power, and politics in Nigeria and Africa is examined through the recent public exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The article posits that understanding the sexual histories of powerful men might offer insights into their political maneuvering, drawing on psychoanalytic theories that equate sex with power and aggression.

Zimbabwean journalist Fungai Machirori's view is cited, suggesting that the "dangling penises" of men in power may hold a "silent compass" to their political actions. This perspective is applied to the recent broadside from Akpabio against Oshiomhole, which the author suggests revealed how sex can indeed "threaten the Nigerian state." Historically, libido has been a recognized threat to governance, a Freudian reality summarized by psychoanalyst Robert Michels: “Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.”

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Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.

The article delves into the specific conflict between Akpabio and Oshiomhole. Akpabio reportedly alluded to Oshiomhole's alleged "boundless libido," referencing an old photograph of Oshiomhole with a female dignitary that drew attention. This personal attack was seen as a response to Oshiomhole's recent media criticism of Akpabio's leadership in the Senate, including accusations of cronyism regarding his daughter's position at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The exchange highlights how personal and sexual innuendo can become tools in political disputes.

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If you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones; if you can’t take blows, brother, don’t throw blows.