‘ITALIAN MEN CAN’T RESIST EDO GIRLS,’ OSHIOMHOLE RECOUNTS AMBASSADOR’S REMARK
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has recalled an encounter with an Italian ambassador who allegedly told him that Italian men could not resist Edo women, during discussions on measures to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole made the revelation during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, where lawmakers discussed the need for the Nigerian and Italian governments to jointly tackle both the demand for and supply of victims of human trafficking.
A video of the exchange emerged online on Thursday.
The former Edo State governor said he had met with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who pledged to provide technical assistance to Edo State to address the supply side of human trafficking.
Oshiomhole explained that he urged the Italian authorities to also take responsibility by discouraging their citizens from patronising trafficked women.
He said, “I know I met with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, who said she was going to give Edo some technical assistance to deal with the issue of supply, and I told her that in history, we don’t demand the supply.
“So the Italian government should do whatever they can to discourage their men or others, because these people didn’t go through Libya. They went through the Italian embassy.”
He argued that Edo and Akwa Ibom states could make progress in tackling human trafficking if the Italian government addressed the demand that sustains the trade.
“The law of economics is that without demand, there will be no supply, but when demand is strong, supply will find its way. So I think this really is a national problem,” he said.
Oshiomhole further recalled that when he appealed to the Italian ambassador to address the demand side, the diplomat allegedly responded, “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.”
In response, the senator maintained that Italian men needed reorientation, rather than placing the entire responsibility on Nigerian communities.
“If they cannot resist, they need the reorientation. Let them deal with Italian people and not Edo people,” he said.
He added that he would focus on tackling the supply side only if there were clear indications that efforts were also being made to curb demand. He warned against Nigeria being portrayed internationally as a country complicit in human trafficking.
The senator also called for action against organised groups abroad allegedly involved in facilitating the trafficking of Nigerian women.
During the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked Oshiomhole whether he had attempted to find out what Italian men found appealing about Edo women.
“Seriously, just for the benefit of my colleagues, did you try to find out what the Italians found in the Edo girls?” Akpabio asked.
Oshiomhole replied, “I couldn’t do that because I’m a Catholic and I’m happily married.”
Akpabio subsequently highlighted legal measures to combat kidnapping and related crimes, recalling that he signed a law prescribing the death penalty for kidnapping while serving as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
He noted that the law also provided for the forfeiture and demolition of properties used in kidnapping, describing such penalties as potential deterrents.
The Senate President called for stronger enforcement of existing laws and improved rehabilitation programmes for trafficking survivors returning to Nigeria.
He also referenced the need to review relevant legislation, including the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Child Rights Act, 2003.
The Senate subsequently adopted a recommendation calling for stronger enforcement of existing anti-trafficking laws and improved rehabilitation measures for victims.
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