Amid worsening security challenges across the country, Remi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has invited Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, and all members of the Senate to a special dinner banquet scheduled for Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In a formal letter of invitation by the First Lady, read by Akpabio on the Senate floor on Tuesday, the gathering is described as an “interactive session” which aims to foster deeper engagement between the legislature and the presidency on issues of national development.
The letter read. “I cordially request the presence of His Excellency, the Senate President, and distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to a dinner at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa at Asokoro.
“This dinner is an interactive session to foster insightful discussion on national progress.”
The First Lady added that she looks forward to receiving all senators for what she described as a meaningful engagement on the future of the nation.
Reacting to the invitation during plenary, Senate President Akpabio likened the gesture to a mother calling her children to the table, urging senators to prioritise attendance.
“This is like an invitation by the mother to the children on Friday that we should come to share a meal and have a fruitful discussion,” Akpabio told his colleagues.
“This is very important, so we all must meet there on Friday.”
The invitation comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe security crises, raising questions about political priorities.
Nigeria woke up to the news of other wave of terror that hit Kwara State, as at least 11 residents including a pregnant woman were reportedly kidnapped on Monday evening in Isapa, a neighbouring community in Ekiti Local Government Area.
This is coming barely one week after 38 worshippers of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, Eruku, were abducted and later released.
Just in the past week, multiple kidnappings and attacks have rattled the nation.
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On Monday, at least 25 girls were reportedly abducted in Kebbi State, while another incident in Niger State saw about 315 persons kidnapped by armed bandits, of which only 50 have been rescued in Niger.
Lawmakers themselves have repeatedly lamented the rising insecurity, with various motions on the Senate floor calling for decisive action, restructuring of security architecture, increased funding, and rapid deployment of technology-driven surveillance tools.
Friday’s dinner, therefore, happens against a backdrop of mounting public pressure on the government to demonstrate seriousness in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence.
While the First Lady’s invitation is framed as an opportunity for “insightful discussion on national progress,” it remains unclear whether the nation’s security deterioration will form a central part of the agenda.
