Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has invited Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators to the commissioning of projects in her constituency in Kogi State. Akpabio read the invitation, which was conveyed in a letter during Thursday's plenary.
The letter reads in part, “In marking my second anniversary as serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to invite fellow distinguished senators to join me for projects commissioning in Kogi State.”
The letter further stated that the meeting point was at her residence in Ihima, Okene, in Kogi State, and also advised senators travelling by air to land at Obajana Airstrip and then proceed to Ihima by road.
Upon reading the invitation, the Senate president congratulated Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying, “Congratulations in advance.”
The invitation seems to signal peace between the 2 senators who have been at loggerheads for months, resulting in a six-month suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Reacting to the invitation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “Today, as is customary for announcements of such nature, I wrote a letter to the Senate through the presiding office to the Senate President to read on the floor. I put out the invitation so it wouldn’t seem like I was celebrating in isolation. I’m a progressive person.
“Even with ongoing court cases, I continue to carry out my duties in the chamber and follow proper procedures. That notification was part of the procedure.
“Basically, today, in the celebration of my second year in office, six months of which I lost to an illegal suspension, I extended an invitation to all the senators.
“The Senate President read it on the floor of the chamber. I actually give glory to God because some months ago, the plan was that my seat would have been pronounced vacant.
“But God, being merciful, saved me through all the ordeals I went through.
“To the glory of God, we are celebrating our second year in office with the inauguration of many projects, which we are starting from today. I’ve just arrived in Kogi. I’m on my way to inaugurate the first water project.
“Then we’re having streetlights, transformers, police station quarters for DPOs and officers, a brand new primary school, a brand new secondary school, and two brand new markets in two different local governments, among many others.”