By Mercy Gadia Adi
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken a satirical swipe at Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over allegations of sexual harassment which she first raised earlier this year. In a mock apology letter shared on her official Facebook page, Natasha adopted a tone heavy with sarcasm to express her “regret” for maintaining dignity and self-respect in Akpabio’s presence.
The senator suggested that legislative success in some quarters appeared to be tied to personal compliance rather than merit, and mocked the idea that her refusal to entertain alleged advances constituted a disruption to an established order. Natasha’s letter was a scathing critique of what she portrayed as an inflated sense of entitlement among some male politicians.
“I offer my sincerest apologies for the grievous crime of maintaining my dignity and self-respect in your presence,” Natasha wrote in the mock apology letter. “I realize now that my refusal to compromise my values and submit to expectations that seem more aligned with feudal servitude than modern professional conduct was a grave mistake.”
Natasha further ridiculed the notion that competence and electoral victory were secondary to personal submission. “I understand that in certain circles, legislative success seems to be predicated not on the merit of one’s contributions or the will of the electorate, but rather on one’s willingness to comply with personal demands that have no place in a professional setting,” she added.
The senator affirmed her continued resistance to such pressures, describing herself as “unafraid, unbought, and unbroken”. Natasha’s sarcastic apology letter has sparked controversy and renewed attention to the allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
The letter Read in Part:“SATIRICAL APOLOGY LETTER
“From the Desk of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan
“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.”
Recall of Previous Allegations
The controversy dates back to February when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had made sexual advances toward her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom State. According to Natasha, her refusal to comply with the alleged advances led to deliberate efforts to obstruct her attempts to raise motions on the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State.
However, Akpabio vehemently denied the allegations, describing himself as a strong advocate for women’s rights. He cited his reputation as a gender-friendly governor during his tenure, emphasizing his commitment to supporting women. Akpabio maintained that he had never harassed any woman, dismissing Natasha’s claims as baseless.