*Says: “Please forgive me, I don’t mean you’re a nite crawler”
*Pix belo(r-l): Akpabio and Natasha
Remorseful Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday apologised to fellow senator representing Kogi Central District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for comparing her conduct in the Senate to that of a nightclub crawler.
During the plenary last Thursday, Natasha commented on a motion without the permission of the Senate President, an action which contravened the Senate standing order.
While trying to correct the Kogi lawmaker for the misconduct, Akpabio told her to follow the rules and that the Senate is not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow.
He has since come under fire from many Nigerians on the social media space, with many faulting his utterance, reminding him that Natasha is equal with him, only that, in Animal Farm, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” .
But presiding over plenary on Tuesday, the Senate President became remorseful, saying he would never deliberately denigrate a woman, having a loving wife and four lovely daughters.
According to Akpabio, he never intended to insult Senator Natasha.
He said: “Distinguished Senator Natasaha, I want to apologise to you. I will not intentionally denigrate any woman, and I always pray that God will uplift women,” he said.
“The interest shown in the social media indicates that we have enemies. I felt I should tender a public apology to you. I do not mean any harm. People should concentrate on things that will move this country forward not otherwise.
“If I had compare your conduct that with people in the market, they’d have said I called you market woman; if I had compared it with people at the village meeting, they’d have said I called you a village champion; so, there’s nothing I would have said the social meia will not find a wrong meaning to.
“My take to all of this is that social media handlers should practice with decorum; and we won’t, out of anger, regulate social media. So, find a place in your heart to forgive.”/###
