Senate President Godswill Akpabio Apologizes to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over His Remarks
Last week, Akpabio had told Akpoti-Uduaghan not to speak as though she was in a “night club” during a session of the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke without being recognised by the Senate president.
The Senate was in session when Akpabio said those in favour of the second reading of the bill to say ‘Aye’, while those against should say ‘Nay’.
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The ‘Nay’ response came the loudest and as the Senate president contemplated his next action, Akpoti-Uduaghan rose to explain why she and some others were against the second reading of the proposal.
“Mr President, we don’t want it to be killed. We just want a bit of modification. We don’t want the bill killed but there should be slight modification.”
Responding to her, Akpabio said: “You see Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognised before you speak. We’re not in a nightclub.”
However, Akpabio has said his “night club” remark was reported out of context.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, on Tuesday, the Senate President said: “We are still learning, even those of us who have been in the Senate for 16 years, we are still learning.”.
“But in course of talking with one of my distinguished sisters on not talking when not recognised, I referenced the fact that we are not in a night club where one has to talk above the noise of the music.
“The social media went agog, my wife phoned me that they posted her number and she gets like between 2,000 to 3,000 calls all day.
“I’m happy with the interest generated by Nigerians with what goes on in this chamber because we are here for their interest.
“The communication was totally misunderstood, instead of making meaning with what we said, they went into private abuse; I don’t want to say what they did to me.
“I will not, at will, denigrate any woman. I have a wife and four daughters, and I always pray that God should lift a girl to the zenith in Nigeria politically and in business. So, Senator Natasha, I want to apologize to you if you felt offended.
“There is nothing I will say that would not be misrepresented; I felt that I should tender a public apology to you.”
