- Set to empower 2000 constituents
- Boreholes, transformers, Police quarters for commissioning
BY VICTOR BUORO – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, says contrary to insinuations in certain quarters, the invitation extended to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other Senators for the inauguration of constituency projects marking her second anniversary in the Senate, is a matter of courtesy.
She also described her invitation letter as procedural being the standard practice for such occasions in both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS).
The Senate President Akpabio had, during Thursday’s plenary, read Senator Natasha’s letter inviting Senators to Kogi Central for the inauguration of several constituency projects executed by her.
The letter read in part: “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 the project inauguration in Kogi State.”
But reacting to speculations in some quarters that the invitation was a political olive branch to the Senate President Akpabio, the Kogi-born lawmaker expressed displeasure over what she described as unnecessary interpretations of a simple courtesy extended to her colleagues in the Red chamber.
Writing on her social media handles, Senator, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 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. Make una no kuku come.”
The message further explained thus: “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.”
Also using the platform to recount her experiences over the last two years. She specifically noted her six-month suspension from legislative functions for breaching Senate rules, saying six months of her tenure were lost to an “illegal suspension”.
She further said, “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.”
While listing the projects to be inaugurated, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said these include boreholes, streetlights, transformers, police quarters, new primary and secondary schools, as well as two new markets across the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
She also hinted that 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.
According to her, “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.”
In thanking God and her constituents for their support, the female lawmaker expressed her commitment to always delivered quality representation to the people of Kogi Central.
Looking back, the Senator said, “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.”
