My invitation to Akpabio, other colleagues procedural, not personal, Natasha clarifies

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has explained that contrary to speculations in certain quarters, her letter inviting Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators to the inauguration of projects to mark her second anniversary in the Senate was an act of courtesy.

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.

During Thursday’s plenary, Senate President Akpabio read Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter, which invited senators to Kogi State for the inauguration of several constituency projects.

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.”

However, reacting to insinuations in some quarters that the invitation was a political olive branch, Natasha expressed displeasure over what she described as unnecessary interpretations of a simple courtesy.

Taking to her social media handles, she shared a cryptic message: “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.”

“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.”

The senator used the occasion 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 also 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.”