Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has opened up on her setbacks during her suspension from the Senate, revealing that both her colleagues and contractors handling projects for her constituency suffered the ripple effects of political isolation.

Speaking during the commissioning of constituency projects in Kogi Central, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that while many of her colleagues privately sympathized with her during the ordeal, they were afraid to show open support for fear of persecution.

“When a government official faces challenges, isolation comes naturally. Even when people are sympathetic, they are afraid to associate with you openly because of fear of being castigated or persecuted. Many senators stood by me quietly—they called, they visited—but in public, they couldn’t show it. I’m not offended by that,” she said.

The senator, who described her suspension as illegal, disclosed that the situation also affected the implementation of projects in Kogi Central, as some contractors faced delays in securing their award letters due to political interference.

“The 2025 budget only became active because of my illegal suspension. A number of contractors struggled to get their award letters because the projects were allocated to Kogi Central. It wasn’t easy getting these awards and commencing construction because of politics,” she stated.

She said despite the challenges, she remained resolute in ensuring that her constituents did not bear the brunt of her ordeal.

“I didn’t want my people to feel the pain of my suspension—it was my punishment to bear, not theirs. Even though about 80 percent of our projects were taken out of the budget, I did my best to ensure development continued,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised that public office is a call to service and not an opportunity for personal gain, noting that her focus remained on delivering tangible benefits to her people.

“When you decide to contest an election, you sign up to serve the people, not yourself,” she said. “If I were thinking of recovering the money spent during primaries, elections, and court cases, these projects would not exist.”

She reaffirmed her commitment to continue serving the people of Kogi Central with dedication and transparency, despite the setbacks faced.

As part of activities marking her second anniversary in office she also commissioned newly built model schools in Osara, Adavi Local Government Area on the third Day.

The new model schools comprise primary and secondary schools, each featuring six classrooms and two dormitories to accommodate students.
This landmark initiative is designed to extend quality education to rural communities and promote sustainable rural development across Kogi Central Senatorial District.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the newly commissioned schools are part of her broader vision to ensure that children in underserved Fulani settlements gain access to education, thereby bridging  inequality in learning opportunities.
The project executed under her constituency intervention programme, the project reflects Senator Natasha’s belief that every child, regardless of background deserves an equal chance to learn, dream, and succeed.
While addressing a jubilant crowd, the senator emphasised that education remains the most powerful tool for social change.
“Education must not be a privilege; it is a right. I want every child—whether from Okene, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, or Ogori-Magongoto to learn in a safe, modern, and dignified environment. That is what this project represents,” Akpotii-Uduaghan said.
She further noted that for too long, nomadic and rural children have been denied access to formal education due to geographical isolation and systemic neglect, a narrative she vowed to change through deliberate legislative advocacy and people-focused constituency projects.
In addition to the school projects, Natasha’s two-year scorecard includes, 40 solar-powered water reticulation projects across the district,
Installation of solar-powered smart streetlights, construction of 160 modern market shops, heath centre, and a lineup of empowerment programmes for her constituents scheduled for Sunday.
In their goodwill messages, community leaders, traditional rulers, and representatives of the Fulani settlement described the initiative as “an answered prayer” and hailed Natasha as “a mother with a heart of gold who remembers the forgotten.”
Similarly, Mrs. Maimuna Yusuf, a grateful parent, expressed her joy:
“Before today, our children used to trek long distances to attend schools in neighboring towns. Now, they have a school they can call their own—thanks to Senator Natasha.”
These projects, collectively, set a new benchmark for inclusive development and highlighted her commitment to creating sustainable sources of livelihood for her people.