Senator Natasha apologizes to Akpabio with sarcasm

 

Senator Natasha ‘Apologizes’ to Akpabio with Sarcasm

Suspended Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has issued a sharply satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, rekindling national debate over gender dynamics and power struggles within Nigeria’s legislative arena.

In a letter steeped in biting irony, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan extended what could only be described as an exaggerated and performative “apology” for the "offense" of upholding her dignity and self-respect in Akpabio’s presence.

With deliberate mockery, she alluded to the unspoken expectation of submission, writing:
"How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of certain men’s entitlement."

Calling out systemic sexism, she continued:
"Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections."

The letter, in part, reads:

Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,

It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I tender this apology for the grievous crime of possessing dignity and self-respect in your most exalted presence. I have reflected extensively on my unforgivable failure to recognize that legislative success in certain quarters is apparently not earned through merit, but through the ancient art of compliance — of the very personal kind.

How remiss of me not to understand that my refusal to indulge your… ‘requests’ was not merely a personal choice but a constitutional violation of the unwritten laws of certain men’s entitlement. Truly, I must apologize for prioritizing competence over capitulation, vision over vanity, and the people’s mandate over private dinners behind closed doors.

I now realize the catastrophic consequences of my actions: legislation delayed, tempers flared, and the tragic bruising of egos so large they require their own postcodes. For this disruption to the natural order of 'quid pro quo,' I bow my head in fictional shame.

Please find it in your magnanimous heart — somewhere buried deep beneath layers of entitlement — to forgive this stubborn woman who mistakenly believed that her seat in the Senate was earned through elections, not erections.

I remain,
Yours in eternal resistance,
Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan
Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken.

Tensions between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio first erupted publicly in July 2024 when Akpabio dismissed her attempt to speak during a plenary session with the comment, “We are not in a nightclub.” The remark was widely condemned as sexist, igniting outrage and calls for an apology.

Although Akpabio later insisted that no harm was intended and affirmed his respect for women, the relationship between the two only deteriorated further. In February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging inappropriate comments and advances. Her petition was dismissed on procedural grounds.

Shortly thereafter, the Senate suspended her for six months over separate conduct issues, a move many Nigerians interpreted as retaliatory — an effort to silence a critical voice. The suspension sparked nationwide protests under the rallying cry “We Are All Natasha,” with activists and women’s rights groups condemning what they described as systemic misogyny within Nigerian politics.

While organizations such as the Kogi Patriotic Consultative Assembly called on her to apologize and move forward, many Nigerians celebrated her defiance, viewing her as a symbol of resistance against deeply entrenched bias and discrimination.

Senate President Akpabio has firmly denied all allegations, labeling Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations as "baseless" and "malicious," and has threatened legal action for defamation.

As the controversy continues to unfold, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fearless and pointed letter has further cemented her reputation as a determined voice against the status quo in Nigeria’s political landscape.