Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has clarified that her letter inviting Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators to the inauguration of projects, marking her second anniversary in the Senate, was merely an “act of courtesy” and not an attempt to offer a “political olive branch”
The Senator “explained that contrary to speculations in certain quarters,” the invitation was not a political gesture.
Instead, she further “explained that the invitation was not just customary but also procedural,” describing her letter as “standard practice for such occasions in both chambers of the National Assembly.”
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Senate President Akpabio read Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter during Thursday’s plenary, which extended an invitation to senators to join her in Kogi State.
The letter was partially quoted as reading: “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.”
Reacting to what the article called “insinuations in some quarters that the invitation was a political olive branch,” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan “expressed displeasure over what she described as unnecessary interpretations of a simple courtesy.”
She used her social media handles to share a “cryptic message,” which included the quote: “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.”
She maintained the formality of her action, stating, “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.”
She stressed her adherence to process, adding, “Even with ongoing court cases, I continue to perform my duties diligently and follow proper procedures. That notification was part of the process.”
The Senator took the opportunity to reflect on her two-year tenure, noting that six months of her time were “lost to an ‘illegal suspension'” from legislative functions due to breaching Senate rules.
She also recalled a time “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 then listed the projects scheduled for inauguration in the Kogi Central Senatorial District, which “include boreholes, streetlights, transformers, police quarters, new primary and secondary schools, as well as two new markets.”
The project inaugurations are set to conclude with a “mega empowerment programme on November 2,” where approximately 2,000 beneficiaries will receive items such as “electric vehicles, deep freezers, gas cookers, sewing machines, shoemaking kits, fishery ponds, and farming tools.”
She confirmed the start of the inaugurations, stating, “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.”
Expressing gratitude, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she “remained committed to delivering quality representation” and announced, “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.”
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