The Kogi State Police Command on Monday said seven persons have been arrested in connection with the assassination attempt on Senator Dino Melaye at his country home Aiyetoro-Gbede last Saturday.
Melaye escaped unhurt after gunmen invaded his house and shot sporadically. They also destroyed two vehicles and riddled the senator’s building with bullets.
A source close to the state police command said a black jeep suspected to have been used for the operation, alongside a cache of ammunition was found at the Odokoro home of the administrator of Ijumu local government area of the state, Taofiq Isa, by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
The source added that the suspects were arrested at different locations, while the black jeep and the ammunition have been impounded by the state police command.
Sen. Dino Melaye’s country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Kogi state was shelled by gunmen early Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered that gunmen surrounded the house after midnight and opened fire from different directions.
Two of the senator’s vehicles parked in the house were damaged. The Senator was not harmed.
Melaye, (APC-Kogi West), was in his country home at Ayetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area for the Easter holiday at the time of the attack
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP William Aya told NAN that the police received a distress call from the senator at about 1 a.m. and immediately responded.
He said the hoodlums escaped before the police arrived, thereby making any arrest impossible.
Aya said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilson Inalegwu had set up an investigation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to unravel those behind the attack.
On his part, Melaye said the hoodlums arrived at about midnight and started shooting sporadically at the main building in the compound.
He said the shooting lasted for almost one hour, adding that apart from the building riddled with bullets, two of his vehicles were damaged.
The senator said he suspected Mr Taufiq Isa, the Administrator of Ijumu Local Government to be behind the attack.
According to him, the attack was politically motivated, because of his criticism of the State Government.
He said: “I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the power that be in the state which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life.
“At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullets into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth.
“If I speak the truth, I will die. If I lie, I will die. I’ve decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men, I don’t fear them.
“I am championing an administrative cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Noting will stop me from coming home.”
Melaye also chided the police for not responding quickly to his distress call, saying that the house of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town was a stone-throw from the scene of the attempt on his life.
“The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the area Commander in Kabba was not notified until I called the Commissioner of police. I suspect a Satanic collaboration between Taufiq Isa and the police in Aiyetoro because the duo held a meeting two days ago.
“Only God will protect us in this country but definitely not the police”, he said.
In a swift reaction, Isa denied having a hand in the attempt on the life of the Senator, saying that he had been busy for sometime taking care of his sick wife.
“I’ve never been a violent man. My running battle with Dino Melaye, if any, is because I have asked him to stop villifying the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“Let him (Dino) prove it. I lost my uncle a week ago; I’m still attending to my sick wife and busy supervising the APC re- registration programmes. I’m a democrat and law abiding. I challenge Dino to prove his case,” he said
Who is Dino Melaye? This is a question that has agitated the minds of Nigerians whose sensibilities have come under severe assault in the last two years. However, relief seems to have come the way of affronted Nigerians with the outcome of a probe of educational claims of Melaye by the Senate Committee of Ethics and Privileges. The outcome has convinced outraged Nigerians that besides sympathy and understanding, Melaye deserves admiration for his courage to turn adversity into opportunity. Melaye represents the archetypal Nigerians who Chinua Achebe in his “The trouble with Nigeria” says have been in the rain for too long, and the moment they got out of the rain, swore none of their generations would go back to the rain.
We now have an explanation for Melaye’s obsession with exotic cars each of which he named after himself. We now know why he proudly told a reporter he had built his Abuja mansions long before he became a senator in 2015 even though available records show the only job he ever did besides serving as Special Adviser on Youths under Obasanjo’s presidency in 2005 was as a member of House of Representatives for four years. This also gave us an idea as to how Melaye has been able to secure the support of. Nigerian youths especially those from his Kogi West who were falling over each other to give him awards upon awards and their community leaders that overwhelmed him with chieftaincy titles. And finally the outcome of the probe provides an insight into why Melaye and Saraki were desperate to capture the 8th Senate.
For Melaye, charity begins at home. He launched his crusade by first seducing our miracle-seeking Nigerian youths, starting with those of his Kogi West Local Government, by attributing the source of his stupendous wealth to God. And to secure their unwavering loyalty, he swore he was in politics to ensure ‘Nigerian youths get their own fair share of the national resources.’This message of miracle from Melaye whose life itself is a miracle resonates well with our jobless youths, especially those of his Kogi West. The passionate appeal by Oby Ezekiweili, a former Education Minister, to Nigerian youths to take their future in their hands and stop laughing ‘while tragi-comedians that cost more than 100 billion’ carry on at the national assembly’, went into the deaf ears as the youths honoured Melaye with award after award. He is today the proud recipient of the following awards: the ‘Best Honourable Representative of the Year from the Global Youth Awareness and Development Initiative; the ‘Protector of the Youth’ award from the PDP National Youth Vanguard, ‘the Epitome of Servant’ from the National Association of Kogi State Students …And to the Nigerian Economic Students Association, he is ‘ Great Motivator of Students’ and to the Kogi Peoples Forum, he is the ‘Icon of Good Leadership and from the Vision 2020 Youth Group, he acquired ‘ the most performed National Legislator’ award.
Melaye has since extended his exploits to the elders of his Kogi West community who, like their counterparts elsewhere in the country, have traded their taste for local wine for imported spirits, and the value they once placed on name and character for free money either in form of 5% LG budget allocation from Abuja or direct donation from their Abuja representatives or ministers. That Melaye has found acceptance among his community elders is evidenced by the number of chieftaincy titles he has so far acquired. They include the ‘Otunba of Bunu Kingdom’, the Arogundade of Ogagi Amuro; Olugbayi of Gbede; Gbeluro of Ogidi; Ariwajoye of Ekinrin Adde; Oluamofin of Okoro Gbede; Asiwaju of Oke-Offin; Olugbeye of Aiyetoro-Gbede; Alutushe of Oke-bukun;and Bolagunwa of Obajana, among others.
To move from the home front to the national arena, Melaye came up with other strategies. He became a social critic and a crusader who, according to Magu, was fighting corruption along with EFCC operatives…As a senator elect in 2015, he was sure of his mission in the Senate. His popularity and influence have been on the rise from the moment he seconded Yerima’s motion to adopt Saraki as President of the Senate by acclamation in the absence of 51 elected APC members. He has moved on to become the de facto deputy senate president whose major assignment seems to be crude attack on his principal’s political adversaries. To execute this goal, he constituted himself into an effective leadership of the ‘82 like minds senators’ that have demonstrated on many occasions that they are ready to swim or drown with Saraki. If there is any doubt as to who the 8th Senate is out to serve, Melaye cleared such doubt during his last week interview with Channels Television over the suspension of Senator Ndume for calling for a probe into the Customs and Sahara Reporters allegations against Saraki and Melaye. According to him, ‘if Ndume shows remorse, apologises to the senate’, Bukola Saraki who is a compassionate leader who does not engage in witch-hunting, will persuade members to either reduce the punishment or to forgive him.’ Dear compatriots, what is the worth of the Nigerian 8th Senate? The picture of the 8th Senate in people’s head after this unguarded and unrestrained statement is that of Kwara fiefdom Bukola Saraki inherited from his father after fifty years of manipulation and exploitation of the state’s hapless citizens.
Perhaps what may end up as Melaye’s greatest victory is the current efforts at dragging the nation to their level. Some otherwise credible Nigerian opinion leaders are already saying the answer to Melaye and Saraki is negotiation and that the name of the game in the US is lobbying. But while both houses in the US protect interests of groups, what the Saraki and Melaye new converts are not telling Nigerians is whose interest Melaye and the 82 like mind senators are protecting. The more we look, the more blurred the difference between the interest of Saraki and those of the captured 82 like mind senators becomes.
Melaye, according to the outcome of the probe by the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, is a third class graduate of ABU. And I think for holding in check 82 like mind senators, some of whom are professors, captains of industries and accomplished professionals, he deserves our admiration. As Bishop Mathew Kukahw reportedly observed: the story of our country is that the first-class brains read medicine and engineering, the second-class brains read MBAs to manage the most talented in our society while the third class go into politics to manage all of us.
Controversial Senator Dino Melaye showed up in the Senate Chambers on Tuesday morning wearing the academic gown of the Ahamdu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria.
The Kogi-West Senator posed with Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in the chamber.
Melaye is facing Senate probe over alleged certificate forgery.
Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Ibrahim Garba has however confirmed that Melaye graduated from the institution with a third class certificate in Geograph in 2000.
The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, on Monday reconfirmed that Senator Dino Melaye earned a degree in Geography from the Faculty of Arts in the year 2000.
On the investigation of the certificate forgery against Melaye, the Vice Chancellor, who also appeared before the Senate Ethics committee told the committee that Melaye graduated from the institution as Daniel Jonah Melaye with a 3rd class degree in Geography.
The VC noted that Melaye graduated and did his one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 2000 and 2001 in Kaduna State.
Vice-chancellor said: “From the records, I know Sen. Dino Melaye, who was formerly known as Jonah Daniel Melaye as a former student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and I know him to be the distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“From the records of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye who was at that time named Daniel Jonah Melaye graduate with a third class degree of the Bachelors of Art in Geography in the year 2000. And by this, he is a graduate of the university.
“In my honour, I reaffirm that Sen. Dino Melaye graduated as Daniel Jonah Melaye during the third semester of the 1998/1999 academic session with a 3rd Class Degree in Geography, that is Bachelors of Arts in Geography.”
Melaye had in his testimony said, “I thank you for the invitation and I want to state my unequivocal confidence in this committee to do justice to this matter.
“I have few documents I would also want to tender to the committee and before I do that I also want to state with every sense of responsibility that I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
“I gained admission with an offer of admission on the 6th of September, 1994 and the admission is to study Bachelor of Arts Geography and a copy of that admission letter will be tendered.
“I also have a second document to tender, my acceptance offer by the university. I also have the third document to tender which is my result from the Ahmadu Bello University certifying me a graduate of the school.
“I also have here a document for my registration that I tendered where I have C5 in CRS, A3 in Agric, C6 in Economics, C6 in Geography, C6 in Biology and a credit in English.
“I will also tender that as evidence. I also want to tender that after my graduation from the Ahmadu Bello University, the school sent my name to the NYSC for the mandatory Service and I participated in the one year NYSC.
“I served in Police College Kaduna and by the grace of God, that year I won the National Prize of the DG and it is on record and verifiable and I beg to tender my discharge certificate from NYSC,’’ he said.
“My name as an undergraduate was Daniel Jonah Melaye. Jonah is actually my father’s name, so that is what I have on my university certificate.
“But because I am now popularly known as Dino I applied to the court and asked that I needed an affidavit for change of name before my admission and I submitted it to ABU.
“I will tender my Identity cards and I came here with a copy of my final year project duly signed by my head of the department in the Faculty of Arts as it was then called.”
Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume
When the committee proceedings began, Senator Ali Ndume, who raised the issue was not at the hearing room.
Clerk of the committee, Freedom Osolo, told the committee that Ndume could not be reached.
Osolo noted that phone calls made to Ndume’s phone were not answered.
When Ndume eventually came around he was questioned why he decided to raise the issue.
Ndume told the committee that he did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to a newspaper publication.
He said: “I did not petition. I only raised a point of order. That is Order 14 and 15. That is, when an issue about a lawmaker comes up, we have the right to bring it up. I made a request. The decision to bring this case before this committee is not my doing. It was the decision of the Senate. I did not expect that it will generate this kind of attention.
“I came here with my own certificate. I was here when the Vice Chancellor said that Melaye graduated from the school in 1999. I do not know how you can graduate in 2000 but went for your NYSC in 1999. I do not understand.”
Anyanwu corrected Ndume. He said the Vice Chancellor had already cleared the air on when Melaye graduated. He said contrary to Ndume’s claims, Melaye’s NYSC discharge certificate shows that he underwent the compulsory one-year national programme in 2000, after his graduation.
Anyanwu retorted on another point raised by Ndume and said: “You said you did not write any petition, but only raised a point of order. Did you as a Senator do any due diligence before you brought the case before the Senate?”
Ndume, again reacted: “That is not my job. That is the job of the committee. I only raised a point of order. I am not Punch Newspaper and I did not write this report.”
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi stepped in at this time and added his voice. He said: “When you make such a serious allegation, you must back it up. Let me read the discharge certificate of his NYSC to you. That is the certificate.”
Not ready to cave in, Ndume maintained: “I raised a point of order and it was referred to this committee. You have shown me the certificate and it has resolved the problem. It is not personal. If there is anything against the integrity of the Senate, it is our duty to clear it. What is the big deal?
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who doubles as vice chairman of the Ethics committee explained more: “It is not about the procedure or the contents of the complaints. You are aware that you are a former Leader of the Senate. You are aware that the public, having formed an opinion, based on what you presented, that we clear this whole thing? I am sure we have cleared your mind since you have seen the discharge certificate. What will be your conclusion when you leave here?
Ndume reacted: “Let me add that I called the attention of the Senate because I feel it is my responsibility to do that. I did not do it in isolation. It has happened before. It cannot be swept under the carpet. He has presented everything. What more do I have to say? What I did was to protect the integrity of the Senate.”
In Nigeria, no day or week passes without its uniqueness, controversy and news. Last week, many happenings around the various segments will still unfold this week majorly because there is continuous unending drama surrounding them.
One of such happening is the great revelation by an online media that Kogi west representative at the Senate, Mr. Dino Melaye did not graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The bold, tall and huge senator fired back warning his ‘enemies’ to back off and that he has seven degrees including a degree from the renowned Harvard University.
Soon after his statement, Harvard University replied saying the Kogi born politician did not attend the institution. The senator even went on to post a picture of him observing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1999 although his statement of result from Ahmadu Bello University shows he graduated in 2000.
Sen. Melaye said he has sued the online publication alongside the publisher to court but obviously the public will want a clearer explanation on the actual situation of things.
With the Vice-chancellor of the institution declaring on the floor of the Senate today that Melaye actually graduated with a third class in 2000, the last may not have been heard concerning this yet, and more revelations may burst up this week.
The Senate has been in the news in more recent weeks and the claim by Senator Shehu Sani last week that the Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir David Lawal awarded contracts to ‘ghost firms’ has put the red chamber more on the headlines. Last Friday, a statement from the SGF urged the general public not to be misled into the belief that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has the authority or power to award contracts.
With Lawal to appear before the Senate soon, many Nigerians are hopeful to get a clearer understanding of the situation. To strengthen the Nigerian democracy, the opposition party must be a good watch-dog to the government.
However, the recent crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has led to name-calling in the media. The two factions have been at each other’s neck and with a case already at the Supreme Court; one wonders how the dispute will be settled. This week may witness new twists and turns as per their crisis.
At the weekend, the number one in the Nigerian Professional Football League spot got a new face although it was not an unfamiliar face. Last week, star striker of MFM FC and current highest goal scorer in the league, Stephen Odey added two goals which lifted his club to the zenith but with a loss for the Olukoya boys away at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe and a win for Plateau United yesterday brought the former league leaders back to the pinnacle with 28 points. Last season’s champions, Rangers International is languishing at the bottom of the table with 12 points.
After Bassey’s eviction from the Big Brother Naija house yesterday, one wonders who will be next to leave this week. With just six housemates left, and Bisola being the new head of house, the show is gradually winding down and the fans are savoring all the excitement. Some housemates will be put up for eviction and the person with the least number of votes gets evicted on Sunday.
The Senate Tuesday asked it committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki over alleged importation of bullet proof car with fake customs duty certificate.
The upper chamber also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery leveled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).
Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.
On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national daily that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmdu Bello University, Zaria.
Ndume told the Senate that an online platform published in a publication claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.
The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.
He said that a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated for him to clear his name.
Ndume also said that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was also accused of corruption and investigated.
He noted Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.
The current Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate and given opportunity to clear his name through investigation.
He said that another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.
Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs seized Senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover over fake documents.
“My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.
“During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.
“In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.
“Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence have been set.
“Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today. Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this senate will stand as it supposed to.”
After the plenary, Senator Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.
The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation where no senator is above investigation.
He said that those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.
He said that Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say that he is not a Nigerian.
Melaye however assured that he would submit himself to investigation as a law abiding citizen of the country.
He also said that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee on the matter unless invited.
Melaye who said that he would not be deterred by negative reports about him noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.
He said that ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees if he did not have a degree certificate.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.
Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.
Ekweremadu referred the two matters to Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigation.
Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi State in the Senate last week raised an alarm over the refusal of the acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), to assent to a bill, passed by the National Assembly and sent to the President for assent in accordance with section 58(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Senator Melaye claimed that the President or the executive has no powers to refuse to assent to a bill duly passed by the legislature; more so, when the reason adduced for refusing the assent is spurious. He called on the Senate to rise to the challenge posed by such waywardness
The acting President had refused to assent to the said bill seeking to amend the National Lottery Commission Amendment Bill because, as he informed the Senate, in his ‘back-to-sender’ letter, there is a pending case in court. Section 58(1) provides: “The power of the National Assembly to make laws shall be exercised by bills passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and, except as otherwise provided by subsection (5) of this section, assented to by the President.” (Emphasis mine). Subsection (5) grants the National Assembly power to override the President, if: “the bill is again passed by each House by two thirds majority….”
The beef of the effusive senator is that democracy will be imperilled if the executive can withhold assent, simply because, some ‘meddlesome interloper’, decided to challenge the constitutional prerogative of the legislature: ‘the power to make laws’; instead of the right of a citizen, to challenge the validity of a law, if it is invalidly made. The argument of the senator, in my humble view, is tenable only to the extent that generally, the court cannot intervene to stop the exercise of a legislative process, but it can declare a legislative exercise, as invalid, where there is procedural or substantive irregularity, which renders the action, ultra vires.
In A. G. Bendel State vs A. G. Federation & 22 ors, (1981) All NLR 85 SC, the Supreme Court, per Fatai-Williams CJN, said: “In my view, a legislature which operates a written constitution in which the exercise of legislative power and its limits are clearly set out has no power to ignore the conditions of law making, that are imposed by that constitution which itself regulates its power to make laws.” In the United States of America, the Supreme Court, in Marbury vs Madison, (1803) 5 US 137, per Chief Justice John Marshall, held: “Certainly, all those who have written constitutions contemplate them as forming the fundamental and paramount law of the nation, and consequently the theory of every such government must be that an act of the legislature repugnant to the constitution is void.”
Of course, the dictum of the CJ of Nigeria, Fatai-Williams, and that of the CJ of the US, John Marshal, quoted above, is with respect to the validity of laws made by the respective legislatures. Obviously, the averments do not extend to the courts having inherent powers to prevent the legislature from embarking on the legislative journey, however, an April fool’s journey it may turn out to be at the end. In my view, the courts can only intervene in a legislative process, where manifestly, a legislative assembly, for instance, is abundantly improperly constituted, or engaging in a manifest illegality, like when a minority number acts as the majority.
So, when the acting President writes to the legislature to say that he withholds his assent because there is a suit pending in court seeking to stop the making of the law in question, Senator Melaye, raises an alarm that the republic is threatened. That is not true. For Section 58(5) of the constitution, did not provide or infer that the President, or his vice, acting for him, should convey to the legislature, the reason or reasons for withholding his assent. The subsection merely provides that: “Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.”
Probably, Senate Melaye is just raising the political temperature of the National Assembly, in an effort to mobilize and propel his colleagues to muster the required two-third majority to override the acting President with respect to the bill which he sponsored. But could the court in an action, enquire, whether the reason adduced by the acting President for withholding his assent is tenable; considering that it was an exercise of a discretionary power? Perhaps. For while the acting President cannot be compelled to state his reason for withholding assent; where he does, the courts may declare such reason untenable and improper in an action.
Professors Wade and Phillips, in their book, Constitutional Law, quoted by Professor Ese Malami, in his own book, Administrative Law, stated: “The exercise of a discretion without taking into account all relevant considerations is equivalent to a failure to exercise it. The exercise of a power for an improper purpose is not an exercise of a power conferred for purposes defined in the statute which confers it. Acts, which are prima-facie lawful, may be invalidated, if they are done for a wrong purpose, or by a wrong procedure.” But if the National Assembly as a public policy, do not act on a matter that is lis pendis, (pending in a court), can it expect the acting President not to defer to the pendency of a matter in court and offer that as a good reason to withhold his assent?
Again, the acting President may just be showing respect by taking pains to write an elaborate letter to the National Assembly detailing his reasons for not assenting to the four bills over which he withheld assent, instead of just writing to say, I withhold assent; or alternatively ignoring the bill, and playing the politics. Well, unless of course, withholding his assent, while he is in charge, was a better politics in the circumstance. But having showed his hand, for a reason which some consider untenable, will the grudging senators test their complaints in court?
In Adesanya vs President of Nigeria (1981) All NLR 1 SC, an attempt by Senator Abraham Adesanya, to shoot down, an Act, which he considered unconstitutional, was itself shot down, on a constrictive interpretation of the doctrine of locus standi, of the petitioner. In the words of Obaseki JSC: “The mere fact that an act of the executive or legislature is unconstitutional, without any allegation of infraction of or its adverse effect on one’s civil rights and obligations, poses no question to be settled between the appellant and the respondents as to the civil rights and obligations of the appellant.”
But interestingly another distinguished panel of the Supreme Court, in Fawehimi vs Akilu, (1987) 1 NWLR Pt 67, at page per Uwais JSC, held: “There can be no doubt that by section 342 and 343 of the Criminal Procedure Law… every citizen of Nigeria or any person for that matter has a right to private prosecution… if the Attorney General does not wish to do so.” Going forward, will the loquacious and pugnacious Senator Melaye test his will against the cerebral and perspicacious acting President Osinbajo, (SAN)? We wait and see.
THE Okun Youth Integrity Group yesterday joined in condemning of the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, over his strings of attacks on Governor Yahaya Bello. The Kogi during a press conference in Lokoja, distanced themselves from the senator, just as they passed a vote of confidence in the governor. They maintained that they have done the best to prevail on the senator to desist from attacking the governor.
The group’s national coordinator, Hon. Sunday Paul, said rather than being responsive to the yearnings of those he represents, he chose to embark on unnecessary attacks on the state governor. He stated: “We dissociate ourselves from the recent attack and blackmailing the executive governor. We have resolved to resist any attack and intimidation from such legislative rascal called who usually insults elders and stakeholders at will.
“That as grassroots development initiative governor, who places the interest of our people at heart, we should give him the maximum support and cooperation to succeed. “We are aware of the recent awards of road contracts in the three senatorial districts of Kogi State; we had long been deceived by our past leaders who promised to repair the roads, but could not meet up throughout their long stay in office, but the present governor, who is not an Okun man, took the bull by the horn, awarded and commissioned the dilapidated roads we have long been agitating for.”
After a critical examination of Dino Menaye’s interview in The Punch of November 6, titled, ‘selling my cars will not end recession, I have ordered for more’, in which he talked extensively about his goals in politics, the future of our youths, his wealth and weakness for cars, one cannot but come to the sad conclusion that we are probably expecting Melaye and all those below the age of 50 in charge of our affairs to give what they don’t have. He, like many of his age, is a victim of military internal colonization that derailed our political socialization process which was replaced with a ‘‘culture of sharing’ of spoils of war after victory. The fault is not in them but in their stars.
It was not a surprise therefore that Melaye in the said interview first celebrated in full measures his successes measured only in terms of his collection of luxurious cars which social media listed as including a Lamborghini, Porsche and a Rolls Royce estimated to cost $450,000 (N89.5) million and, a new 2015 slingshot . Of course he also added a number of Abuja houses he claimed to have built before his inauguration as senator.
Neither was it a surprise that when he was asked about his goals in politics, he without much reflection said he was “in politics to make sure that the youths of this country get their fair share in power sharing and resources of this country”. He momentarily forgot we live in the same world where John Kennedy, the 35th President of United States once asked the American youths not to ask for what America can do for them but what they can do for their country, and that Kennedy’s forbearers, ( Thomas Jefferson 33, Alexander Hamilton 21 and James Madison 25) jointly put together The federalists and Democratic Republicans, the precursor of today’s Republicans and Democratic parties as modernizing agents before their declaration of Independence in 1776.
Neither did Melaye, 42, obsessed with luxury cars remember that when NEPU was formed in 1950 by eight young Hausa-speaking radicals, Aminu Kano was only 30 and Sa’adu Zungur 37; that when AG was formed on April 25, 1951with its motto “unity through federation” and freedom for all”, Bode Thomas was 32, Williams 31, Awo 42 and Ajasin 43 and that when (Jam’iyyar Mutanem Arewa,), Northern People’s Congress(NPC) was inaugurated in September 1951, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa the chief motivator was 39, Ahmadu Bello 41, Dr R A B Dikko 39, and Yahaya Gusau 36. Perhaps it will humble Melaye if he understands that some of these youths who put the nation before self had the opportunity of enjoying life to the fullest if they chose to. Thomas, William and Aminu Kano were children of aristocrats of their time. In fact Aminu Kano had to resign from government job in Sokoto to nurse the young party in Kano in order to differentiate it from other parties whose sponsors according to him only wanted power.
Almost 70 years after Nigerian youths dedicated themselves to building political parties as modernizing agents while others wrote books about ‘Path to Nigeria Greatness’, Melaye when asked why he decided to sacrifice the interest of the party to please Saraki his friend, said “the party to me is just a vehicle for winning elections because no political party in this country is ideologically based”. We don’t need to search far as to why Saraki and Melaye saw nothing immoral in dumping the then sinking PDP after using it as platform to win election for APC just as they saw nothing wrong in trading off the victory of APC for Senate Presidency.
Melaye who as an indigent student rose to become student union leader and later NANS president at ABU all of which influenced his appointment as a special assistant on youths, a position that gave him a breakthrough into national politics did not ascribe his sudden rise politically to hard work but says “I give all honour, glory and adoration to the Almighty God who has supreme control over the universe. I want to believe that God is the ultimate reason for where I am today”. That may well have been true. But telling his story of grass to grace and acknowledging the intervention of those God sent to open ways for him would have made more positive impact on our disillusioned youths.
And as for the source of is stupendous wealth at such a young age, all he had to say was “”I am a transparent Nigerian” adding ‘For a man who buys very expensive cars with his name labelled on the number plate, it is enough to tell you that he is clean’; The houses I have in this city (Abuja), I acquired before being sworn in as a senator. Hard work pays and the Holy Book says God shall supply my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. My source of wealth is heavenly, my purse is divine and it won’t dry up.’
Again, almost 70 years after our youths made a clear distinction between service to God and service to state which yielded a bountiful harvest, Melaye and his other military ‘new breed’ politicians for whom sharing is the prevailing value, want our youths to accept the way to a secured and prosperous future is through prosperity prophets and Muslim clerics that promise miracles and break-through. They conveniently ignore God’s admonition that we must live by our sweats.
Beyond fighting corruption, I think government must also now embark on a battle to let our youths appreciate the value of sacrifice and hard work while pointing out to them the real threat to their future include the military created ‘new breed’ politicians who after fraudulently confiscating our national assets embarked on asset stripping, derailed the rural electrification programme, executed the theft of N1.6 trillion fuel subsidy scam and periodically masterminded budget padding.
Sensitization of our youths has become more pressing because Nigerians are no more shocked that the ‘culture of sharing’ has become the prevailing value among our new generation of leaders. Vice President Osinbajo recently observed that in other societies, the idea of Generals, journalists and politicians sharing billions meant for arms at period soldiers were unable to defend their barracks let alone stop the mindless killing of innocent Nigerians by Boko Haram insurgency, would have forced people to the street in protest. Not even the alleged confession of a former Minister of Defence that he ‘misapplied’ funds earmarked for arms to rig election in Ekiti and Osun states has attracted a whimper from students.
