Currently, the cyberspace, especially in Africa has been inundated with videos, skits and moral commentaries on the sexual scandal of Mr. Baltasar, the man from Equatorial Guinea. Baltasar according to sources is the head of ANIF (National Agency for Financial Investigation) of Equatorial Guinea. Based on the reports of those who have seen the videos, Baltasar has been sexually involved with about 400 women. Given the overwhelming evidence backing up this allegation, many have criticized the man as a moral pervert and a home breaker, who used his high office to prey and take advantage of innocent women. Others have blamed the women involved scandal for allowing themselves to be taken advantage of. This group asked critics not to blame Baltasar alone but to extend blame to the women because as adults they were not forced into the act. In the midst of all the interests and interventions this sexual scandal has generated, there are a number of important questions that must be asked. Yes, it is okay to become morally enraged when this type of thing happens but moral outrage is not enough. Important questions need to be asked not just to forestall future occurrence but to choose the right attitude when it occurs.
Baltasar held a very important position in Equatorial Guinea. Considering the nature of his public office, he stands a good chance of exploiting the public through his exalted office. Perhaps, sex was one of his ways of accepting bribe from individuals who wanted him to use his position to influence things in their favour. The Baltasar scandal could be a revealed glimpse of what may be happening in several public offices where persons in positions of power use the influence of their positions to get whatever they want from people. Here in Nigeria, where there are individuals who can barely feed their families, we have seen government official looting money running into billions of naira. Looked at in this direction, it comes down to greed and abuse of power. Public offices are specifically created for service but most people see them as means to abuse others and enrich themselves
But this did not address the more fundamental question, namely, how could one man bed so many women when many men could hardly satisfy their partners? One possible answer is that Baltasar might be chronically addicted to sex. If not, how do we explain having affairs with 400 women, including pregnant ones? But let’s assume that he is a pervert. What about the recording? This is another matter of concern. It is possible that due to addiction, the videos are meant for further sexual gratification. But does a man who has 400 beautiful women, including his wife, at his beck and call need lewd clips for sexual gratification? Does he spend all his time in sexual gratification? What about his job as the head of such an important agency? It looks unlikely that the recordings were for further sexual gratification.
If it doesn’t what does? Is it possible as some religiously minded people have suggested that Mr. Baltasar is an occultic man who uses sex as means of reinforcing his spiritual powers? If not, why will he be so loose with women despite having a beautiful wife? There have been similar stories of men involved in occultism who bed multiple women as means of spiritual powers. We may never find out any of these, especially the occultic angle unless Mr. Baltasar is ready and confesses. No matter which of these possibilities is the case, there is an important point to underline about Mr. Baltasar, he comes across as a very sick man in need of help.
But he is not the only one who appears sick in this episode. Coming to the women involved in the scandal, why would so many women be involved in sexual relationships with one man? Probably, most of them thought they were the only ones sexually involved with him besides his wife. Which woman in her right senses would like to bed a man who is bedding everyone? Baltasar probably got these women using his position, wealth, and appearance. But were they not aware he was married? Were they not being properly loved and cared for by their husbands? If they were not, did that justify their involvement with him? It has also been speculated that he used spiritual powers to hypnotize them. Each of the women will definitely have their stories to tell.
What about Mr. Baltasar wife? Did Mr. Baltasar no longer find her attractive? Did he ever find her attractive? Was theirs a forced marriage? If any of these is true, does it justify bedding 400 women? Is it possible that Baltasar’s wife was previously unaware of her husband’s sexual exploits? Or was she aware and chose to let things be?
Who recorded and released the sexual videos of Mr. Baltasar to the cyberspace? Was Mr. Baltasar the person who recorded the videos or was the video recorded by some else? Was the person who recorded and the person who released the video the same person? Were the discovery of the videos envisaged before the search on Baltasar, or were the finding accidental? Is Mr. Baltasar a victim of a blackmail?
Too many unanswered questions right? Why do I raise these questions? Do I even know? Maybe because we are living through a hyper emotional society where individuals rarely think through to process what they are bombarded with on the cyberspace before taking sides. Maybe, we need to think more and ask more questions when issues like these arise.
