Recently, reports emerged from Equatorial Guinea about a government minister allegedly involved in sexual relationships with about 400 women. The scandal, which quickly spread across international media, has sparked outrage, curiosity and arguments as to how a man could sleep with such a large number of women, his need to record his dalliances, the fact that many of the women were married and were either highly placed or wives of highly placed officials of the government, how the man was able to manage all his affairs without the knowledge of his wife or the other women, what drives the sexual urges of men and women and the complex issues of ethics, power, and sex.
There are a lot of theories about why the man slept with the women. Some say he has a sex addiction, others say he was doing the women favours or receiving sex as a favour.
There are also a lot of theories as to why he filmed his sexcapades. Some say it was to savour them afterwards and many say that he used them to blackmail the women and their highly placed husbands. Yet others opine that it was his insurance of some sorts after all, he was the henchman fighting corruption in the country and would naturally have many enemies. Whatever the theory, one thing everyone seems to agree on is that he must be a very good lover trained in the art of female seduction.
Apart from the obvious psychological reasons which undoubtedly abound in this story, there are several reasons why someone in such a position would engage in this behaviour the main reason being Power and Impunity where people in positions of extreme power, have a sense of invincibility by actually believing that they’re above societal norms and standards due to a lack of consequences or oversight. For the women he slept with, power and impunity also comes into play because the truth is that women are drawn to power and wealth and if a man has good looks, charm and is a good lover he will have women begging for his company. I dare say that for some of those women, he has bragging rights and a validation of their rise in the upper echelons of society, attractiveness and social status.
A lot of people have wondered about the women he slept with starting from his wife. Didn’t she know what was going on or did she know and didn’t care or didn’t know the magnitude of her husband’s indiscretions and affairs. What of the 400 women? Didn’t they know each other, how was he able to ensure that they didn’t meet each other maybe at the doorstep of the hotel, office, etc? I find it very difficult to believe that some of these women didn’t know or know of each other. I mean, in office settings we know when a boss is sleeping with his subordinates or colleagues not to talk of a whole 400 women in a small country where the class of women he slept with is a small minority.
I can almost swear that his wife knew he was having affairs. It is commonplace in our continent or elsewhere, that powerful men will always have throngs of women throwing themselves at them. In my opinion what the man has done is nothing new and I dare say that he is being criticised not for having affairs but for the sheer number of the women he slept with, the fact that he slept with the wives and daughters of his superiors and that he recorded the sexual acts.
We haven’t heard much about the women in this story but their involvement brings up equally important questions about choice, power and societal norms. The theories that the women were bedded and recorded as security against the powerful people that the minister was prosecuting pays credence to the fact that many times women are pawns in the power games played by men. It is very doubtful that the women were forced, for many of them faced the camera boldly during sexual intercourse. However, in situations where one party holds significantly more power, such as a government minister, the line between consent and coercion can blur. Even if the relationships were technically consensual, the inherent power imbalance might pressure women into situations they wouldn’t otherwise consider. Social, financial or political incentives may subtly—or explicitly—play into decisions, with some women potentially feeling pressured due to the status or influence the minister holds or the status and influence of their husbands. In communities where resources, opportunities or upward mobility are limited, relationships with powerful figures is seen as a pathway to material gain, stability or social status.
My thoughts are that the women involved were not merely passive participants; they are also products of their environment, shaped by socioeconomic pressures, cultural expectations and power imbalances, and YES, some slept with him for the mere fun of it and had no inhibitions in being recorded and that’s a fact we must all acknowledge because women cheat and many cheat with no cogent reason for doing so.
Beyond the sensationalism, the story carries profound moral implications for marriages, men and women. It invites us to reflect on loyalty, integrity and the responsibilities we have to others in relationships. It highlights the impact that betrayal has on the foundation of a marriage and the lasting effect on the parties, children and even extended family members, especially in this social media age where nothing is hidden and there is no doubt in my mind that the wife of Mr Minister, the husbands of the women he slept with, their children and extended family members are and will be subjects of public ridicule, shame, bullying and abuse. It yet again, like the “Me too movement,” cautions us and men especially on the need for self-control and moral discipline, especially in positions of influence.
This story in my opinion, is a reflection of larger, deeper issues in power structures worldwide. It’s a reminder of the responsibilities entrusted to those in positions of power and the impact of their actions on society. It’s a warning to all and sundry that our hidden deeds will one day come to light no matter how long it takes, it’s a caution to parents that their actions will affect and haunt their children and it is a clarion call that we must face in these parts of the world that some people have uncommon sexual addictions or preferences and may need help.
The outcry and disbelief that has trailed the story shows that no matter how enlightened a society is, there are still some things that are an aberration and that to me is a good thing even though I suspect that were we to stand before God as judge none of us may be able to cast a stone against this “great sinner” for we all have hidden deeds that we will not want the public to know about.
In today’s society where material wealth, power, and social status are often glamorised, creating incentives for people to seek such connections, even at the cost of personal or moral compromise, the story is a call for a commitment to values that prioritise respect, integrity, and equality for everyone.