Senate President Godswill Akpabio has spoken out about his recent health issue that caused him to collapse during an event celebrating his 61st birthday.
Akpabio has asked Nigerians not to attach too much significance to the incident, explaining that the collapse was a result of a combination of malaria and exhaustion.
Akpabio discussed the issue with journalists at the senate on Friday, revealing that he had been diagnosed with malaria after attending a colloquium in Abuja on December 7th.
He also downplayed the incident, remarking that it was a natural and human reaction to exhaustion.
He said, “What eventually happened after the event was a show of humanity. I went home and I called my doctors and I was assured that I have malaria, mingled with stress, which could also be described in another way as exhaustion.
“In fact, anybody could be exhausted. Please, drink water daily so that you don’t get exhausted.
“This is to say that the work goes on. I want to assure Nigerians that the National Assembly is intact and we are still going on with our duty, our appropriation.
“We will resume on 20th December. But before then, the various committees must have finished their work to enable us to meet the target to pass the budget before the end of the year for the president to append his signature.”
Akpabio assured Nigerians that the Senate remains operational and on schedule to pass the national budget before the end of the year. He confirmed the resumption of legislative activities on December 20th and also said committees need to finalise their work before the deadline.
