From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate President Godswill Akpabio returned to the country Monday morning after what he described as a brief vacation in London.
His return puts to rest reports that he was critically ill and admitted to a hospital abroad.
Akpabio, who had attended the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva between July 29 and 31, proceeded to London afterwards. His absence triggered speculations suggesting he was battling a serious health challenge.
A statement issued by his media aide, Jackson Udom, disclosed that the Senate President touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 4:00 a.m. and was received at the Presidential Wing by senators, aides, and supporters.
The statement added that while speaking with journalists on arrival, Akpabio dismissed the rumours and assured Nigerians of a more vigorous legislative agenda when the Senate resumes.
“We are ready for robust legislative engagements on resumption,” he was quoted as saying, while justifying the participation of a strong Nigerian delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Geneva.
He further pledged closer synergy with the executive and judiciary to deliver on governance, saying Nigerians should expect “more derivatives of democratic governance and effective collaboration with the other arms of government.”
