Strong indications emerged on Thursday that the rift between Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) and Senate President Godswill Akpabio has finally been resolved, following an invitation by Natasha to Akpabio and other senators for a project commissioning ceremony in Kogi State next week.
The olive branch came through a personally signed letter by Akpoti-Uduaghan, which was read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio during plenary.
In the letter, the Kogi lawmaker invited all senators to attend the commissioning of various constituency projects in Ihima, Kogi State, on Sunday, as part of activities marking her second anniversary in the Senate.
The letter read in part, “In marking my second year anniversary as serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to invite my distinguished colleagues to join me for the commissioning of projects in Kogi State.”
According to the correspondence, the meeting point for the event will be Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s residence at Plot 101, Jimoh Akpoti Street, Ihima, Okene, Kogi State.
She further noted that senators travelling by air could land at the Obajana Airstrip before proceeding to Ihima by road.
Apparently pleased by the gesture, Akpabio, after reading the letter, smiled and said, “Congratulations in advance.”
Read also: ‘I owe no apology,’ says Natasha as she returns to Senate after six-month suspension
Thursday’s public exchange marked a significant thaw in relations between both senators, whose earlier clash over seat reallocation in February led to a dramatic fallout.
The dispute escalated into a major confrontation, culminating in the Senate’s decision on March 6 to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct and “disruptive behavior” during plenary.
However, upon her return from suspension on September 24, the senator began to rebuild her relationship with Senate leadership.
Thursday’s invitation publicly read by Akpabio himself is being seen within parliamentary circles as the strongest sign yet that the once frosty relationship between the Senate President and the Kogi lawmaker has been mended.
