Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, has offered an apology to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, following the controversial sexual harassment allegation she made against him. The apology was issued on Sunday, after a series of legal exchanges between both parties, and it came amidst her ongoing suspension and legal restrictions.
The apology, however, was far from straightforward. It was presented in the form of a sarcastic letter that she penned to Akpabio, who is currently in Rome attending the funeral of the late Pope Francis. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s apology was not one of heartfelt remorse, but instead a satirical expression of discontent, laden with biting humor. In the letter, she expressed her “deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret” for allegedly offending Akpabio by upholding her dignity in the Senate.
She went on to mock the notion that success in the Nigerian legislature is dependent on personal compliance rather than merit, criticizing the “ancient art of compliance” that she implied some senators subscribe to. She also referenced her refusal to submit to what she described as “requests” from Akpabio, which she claimed were not just personal rejections but violations of the unwritten rules of entitlement practiced by powerful men in the Senate.
In a tongue-in-cheek reflection on her actions, Akpoti-Uduaghan remarked that she now understood the consequences of prioritizing competence over “capitulation” and the public interest over personal gains. She highlighted how her stance on these matters supposedly delayed legislation and ruffled the egos of those who felt their influence was being undermined.
Her letter concluded with a scathing remark about the so-called “natural order” of legislative affairs in Nigeria, a system she implied was based on quid pro quo agreements and personal favours behind closed doors. In a final, defiant note, she affirmed her unbroken stance, signing off as a woman who remains “Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension came in early March after a dispute over the seating arrangement in the Senate, which she claimed was designed to diminish her status. Matters escalated when she publicly accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his sexual advances, a claim that ignited a legal battle and further exacerbated tensions within the upper legislative chamber.
Despite a court order barring both parties from publicly discussing the matter until the legal proceedings are concluded, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent actions suggest a defiance of that directive, as she made the letter available to the press in Abuja. This controversial apology marks the latest chapter in a saga that has gripped Nigerian politics, as the public waits for further developments in the ongoing legal and political drama.
