Developing Story: “I Am Sorry”, Sen Sunday Karimi Tells Akpabio
* Why we did not support Natasha – Senator Ireti Kingibe
By PHC Telegraph
Senator Sunday Karimi represent-ing Kogi West has apologised to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio for pressuring him when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan first came to the Senate to appoint her as a committee chairman.
The Senator offered the apology while speaking on the issue of the misconduct of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Contributing to the debate on the floor, an obviously embarrassed Senator said to the Senate President, “I’m sorry”.
“I want to confess my sins today”, Karimi said before his colleagues who had come together to deal with a matter affecting the integrity of the Senate, “because this is the holy month of Ramadan and at the same time, the time of fasting.”
He recalled how he mobilised lots of people to persuade the Senate President to give Natasha a pride of place within the Senate in a bid to enhance her growth as a Senator.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate presided as the Senate shutdown the belligerence of Senator Natasha.Akpabio had argued that the request to put the new comer in a leadership position did not conform with the rules of the Senate, but as Karimi admitted that is how Akpabio agreed to help.
He said he was responsible for what the Senate President was going through at the moment, saying he was absolutely sorry.
This is how Karimi put it, “I am one of those that put you in this problem, and I am very sorry.”.
He however said he fully supported the plan to evict the Senator from the Senate for six months.
Speaking on Arise Television, Senate Ireti Kingibe representing the Federal Capital Territory explained why female Senators failed to come to the defence of Natasha.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan… suspended for six months.“The reason why you hear that the three (remaining) women in the Senate are being silent. Yes, because silence is golden, especially when one of us is not following the rules.
“And as women, we did not want to come out publicly to say anything negative about her, and we were hoping all of this would blow over, as a lot of things do.”
She confessed that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had once told her she has met Akpabio in a hotel.
Many women on social media also expressed their anger over the suspension, with some calling it “oppression.”
Senator Orji Uzo Kanu had asked the Senate to show mercy if Senator Natasha renders an apology.
What will Natasha born of a Nigerian father and an European mother do? Will she apologise?
As she left the Senate, Senator Natasha said the injustice against her would not stand, meaning she may spend the six months of suspension fighting the Senate President and the institution that he represents.