Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a public apology to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, for his previous comments made during a Senate session.
Last Thursday, during a session in which the Senate was debating the second reading of a bill, Akpabio rebuked Akpoti-Uduaghan after she rose to explain her opposition to the proposal without being formally recognized. Akpabio had responded to her interruption by saying, “We’re not in a nightclub.”
Addressing the Senate on Tuesday, Akpabio clarified his remarks and apologized. He explained, “We are still learning, even those of us who have been in the Senate for 16 years, we are still learning. But in the course of speaking with one of my distinguished sisters on not speaking when not recognized, I made reference to the fact that we are not in a nightclub where people have to shout above the noise of the music.”
Akpabio expressed regret that his comments were taken out of context and led to significant backlash, including his wife receiving thousands of phone calls after her number was shared online. “The social media went agog, my wife called me that they published her number and she received around 2,000 to 3,000 calls per day,” he said.
He emphasized that his intention was not to denigrate any woman, noting his respect for women, having a wife and four daughters. “I will not intentionally denigrate any woman… So Senator Natasha, I want to apologize to you if you felt offended,” Akpabio stated.
