Why I invited Akpabio to my project commissioning – Natasha
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has clarified that her invitation to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other Senators for the inauguration of constituency projects was purely procedural and customary, not a political olive branch.
During Thursday’s plenary, Senate President Akpabio read the letter from Akpoti-Uduaghan inviting Senators to Kogi Central to mark her second anniversary in the Senate. The invitation covers several projects, including boreholes, streetlights, transformers, police quarters, new primary and secondary schools, and two new markets.
Reacting to speculations on social media, the Senator said, “Announcement by protocol don turn to ‘Olive Branch, Reconciliation’. If I didn’t invite you all to ‘see what the Lord has done in my life’, you’d say I’m ignoring the institution.” She emphasized that the invitation followed proper procedure and was standard practice in the National Assembly.
Akpoti-Uduaghan recounted her challenges in office, noting a six-month suspension for breaching Senate rules and a previous attempt to declare her seat vacant, which she described as “illegal” but overcame. Despite these hurdles, she said she remained committed to serving her constituents diligently.
The inauguration activities will culminate in a mega empowerment programme on November 2, benefiting about 2,000 constituents with items such as electric vehicles, deep freezers, gas cookers, sewing machines, shoemaking kits, fishery ponds, and farming tools.
