Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has explained why she invited Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators to her project inauguration for her second year in office, despite speculations of a frosty relationship with the Senate leadership.
She said the invitation was customary and procedural, describing it as a standard practice for such occasions in the National Assembly.
During Thursday’s plenary, Senate President, Akpabio had read Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter, which invited senators to Kogi State for the inauguration of several constituency projects.
The letter read: “In marking my second anniversary as a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to invite fellow distinguished senators to join me for projects inauguration in Kogi State.”
“As is customary for announcements of such nature, I wrote to the Senate through the presiding officer for the Senate President to read on the floor. I didn’t want it to seem like I was celebrating in isolation. I’m a progressive person.
Even with ongoing court cases, I continue to perform my duties diligently and follow proper procedures. That notification was part of the process,” she said.
The senator, who recounted her experiences over the last two years, said six months of her tenure were lost to what she described as an “illegal suspension.”
“Some months ago, there was a plan to declare my seat vacant, but God saved me. Today, we are celebrating our second year in office with the inauguration of multiple projects,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan listed the projects to be inaugurated, which include water facilities, streetlights, transformers, police quarters, new primary and secondary schools, and two new markets across the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
She said the series of project inaugurations would culminate in a mega empowerment programme on November 2, where about 2,000 beneficiaries would receive items such as electric vehicles, deep freezers, gas cookers, sewing machines, shoemaking kits, fishery ponds, and farming tools.
“We are starting the inaugurations today in Ganaja, Lokoja, with a water project, and will proceed to Adogo and Jakuta for streetlight projects before returning to Ihima,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed gratitude to God and her constituents for their support, saying she remained committed to delivering quality representation.
“Though I lost six months, I ensured my people didn’t feel deprived of the benefits of representation. I worked extra hard to bring the dividends of democracy to them. I’m grateful to God for the courage to continue serving,” she said.
