Why I invited colleagues to celebrate constituency projects in Kogi – Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) has announced she will host Senate President Godswill Akpabio and all senators in her constituency for a week-long inauguration of projects, as a celebration of resilience and service after a challenging first term.

In a statement marking her second year in office, the senator reflected on her six-month suspension from the Senate, a period she described as an “ordeal” during which some had planned for her seat to be declared vacant. “But God, being merciful, saved me,” she stated.

Despite the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she ensured her constituents were not deprived of democracy’s dividends. The projects set for inauguration from October 30 to November 2 were all conceived and executed during her time away from the chamber.

“To the glory of God, we are celebrating our second year in office with the commissioning of many projects,” she said. The projects include water schemes, transformers, streetlights, police quarters, schools, and markets across various local government areas in Kogi Central.

The climax of the events will be a “mega empowerment programme” on November 2, where over 2,000 constituents will receive items such as electric vehicles, deep freezers, gas cookers, sewing machines, and farming tools.

Explaining her decision to invite the entire Senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the gesture was driven by a spirit of reconciliation and procedural respect.

“I’m a progressive person. I don’t want to celebrate in isolation,” she noted, adding that she continues to perform her duties and follow procedures despite ongoing court cases.

Her official invitation, read on the Senate floor by a smiling Senate President Akpabio, was met with applause from colleagues across party lines. Akpabio offered his “congratulations in advance,” signaling a moment of political reconciliation.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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