The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senator Dino Melaye

  • Melaye: Senator Tinubu writes IGP

    Melaye: Senator Tinubu writes IGP

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu Monday wrote to acting Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris requesting adequate security following last week’s attack on her by Senator Dino Melaye.

    In the letter dated July 18, with the title: Request for police protection, the Lagos Central senator, said:   “During the proceedings of the Senate on Tuesday July 14, 2016, I had a cause to contribute to a matter of national importance.

    “Apparently dissatisfied by my contributions, Senator Dino Melaye threw caution to the winds, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person and wanted to assault me.”

    “It was the intervention of a number of colleagues which prevented Senator Melaye from unleashing physical attack on me.

    “However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without provocation whatsoever.

    “In view of Senator Melaye’s antecedent, particularly in the House of Representatives where a brawl led by him led to untimely death of a member, I have decided to not ignore his threat to my life. Therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good offices to provide me with adequate security.”

     

  • APC Diaspora condemns Melaye over alleged threat on Sen. Tinubu

    APC Diaspora condemns Melaye over alleged threat on Sen. Tinubu

    The forum of All Progressives Congress Diaspora Chairmen in the strongest terms, condemn the statements credited to the Kogi West Senator, Hon. Dino Melaye against Senator Tinubu (Lagos Central) during a recent executive session of the Senate.

    The forum wants to believe that Senator Dino Melaye has been misquoted  as the use of uncouth, abusive, derogatory language or the threat of rape and death against any person, not to talk of a female colleague in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be treated a criminal case.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK, Ayoola R. Lawal, Chairman, APC Scandinavia, Stephen Adeayo Tella, Chairman, APC  Spain, Chief Mohammed Suheed Olanrewaju Balogun Chairman APC France, Lawrence Adesola Adelekan, Chairman, APC Philippines, Mr Olalekan Ogunwede, Chairman APC Germany and Prince Hammed Adefioye, Chairman APC Republic of Ireland.

    We therefore call on the leadership of the Nigerian Senate or the appropriate institution of state empowered to investigate such to act immediately and decisively in confirming the veracity of the said incident and ensure that disciplinary and/or appropriate measures are applied to avoid recurrence of such at the Upper Legislative Chamber of the most populated black nation in the world.

    If found or proven to be a true report of what happened at the said meeting of the Senate, we call on  Senator Melaye to tender unreserved apologies to Senator Tinubu, the Senate and the Nigerian people for dragging the integrity of the Nigerian Senator to such unwarranted mess.

    We hold the view that this said incidence is more worrying, if not embarrassing  considering the ongoing investigation of the reported sex scandal reported by the America High Commission against some Nigerian parliamentarians during recent their leadership program in the USA.

    As a Senator representing our party, the APC and as people who strongly believe that the promise which our party the APC, made to the Nigerian people to introduce a new kind of politics; one founded on party discipline and accountability to the people, we warn that we will forward the press reports of this case to all foreign missions/embassies with a request that Senator Melaye be denied visiting rights to those countries until he is cleared of this accusation as we do not want any of our leaders bringing disrepute or further inflicting intolerable dark blot on Nigeria and Nigerians.

    We deem this the right and appropriate thing to do as the sweat and blood of numerous Nigerians brought in the present government and we will not allow their memory and sacrifices be trampled upon or the image of Nigeria/Nigerians be maligned by inappropriate behaviours of our leaders.

  • Kogi: Ex-LG secretaries berate Melaye over probe panel

    Kogi: Ex-LG secretaries berate Melaye over probe panel

    The Forum of the Past Secretaries of Local Government Councils in Kogi State Wednesday tackled the Senator Dino Melaye-led group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders over their alleged involvement in the crisis rocking the state.

    It called on the APC stakeholders to join hands with Governor Yahaya Bello, to move the state forward instead of attacking him.

    Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, the spokesperson of the forum, Audu Abdulsalam, said the state needed peace to develop.

    He said there was the need for well-meaning people of the state to come together and rescue it from the maladministration of past governments.

    The group noted that Bello should be commended for the release and payment of the Federal Government bailout fund to Kogi State.

    The group added: “We must also commend him on his efforts to rid the state of the menace of kidnapping and other violent crimes through the deployment of surveillance helicopter and special military force to the state which has led to the harvest of arrest of men of the underworld.”

    They therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun to call Melaye and his group to order and save the state from further political crisis.

     

  • Senator submits bill for abolition of State of Origin

    Senator submits bill for abolition of State of Origin

    The Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye Friday disclosed that he has submitted a bill for the abolition of State of Origin.

    Melaye said this in Abuja at the unveiling of the 18th anniversary logo of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, (PCN).

    He said that Nigerians should be united in everything instead of victimizing one another.

    The lawmaker disclosed that the Peace Corps of Nigeria, (PCN) has performed to the admiration of the National Assembly hence the need to support the organization.

    He said the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has assured him that the third reading of the PCN bill in the Senate will be slated soonest.

    His words: “I have submitted a bill for the abolition of State of Origin. We are one united indivisible people in this country we do not need state of origin. My bill will be that instead of state of origin we should have state of residence. Where ever you reside is your state. For example Emaka can become governor of Kano State, Oluwole can decide to become the governor of Borno State and Abudul Malik can want to become the governor of Edo State. That is the Nigeria of our dream and that is for the youth to actualize.

    “The PCN has demonstrated service in your labour for Nigeria in the last 18 years. I acknowledge that you are a very responsible organization and you have done well. I want to encourage you to press on and you will continue to enjoy the support of Nigerians like myself. And I the Senate President send his support and encouragement.

    “He has assured me that the third reading of the bill in the Senate will be slated soonest and I want to assure you that it has been passed in the House of Representatives and I will personally supervise the concurrent in the Senate.  I appreciate the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the supervisory roll and encouragement.

    “I charge the Nigerian youths to shun violence; they are yet to discover their strength. This country is yours. Youth need attitudinal change.”

    The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung said government will continue to support the PCN and urged the organization to keep up the good work.

    Dalung who was represented by the Permanent Secretary advised PCN to continue to respect constituted authority with the view to enhance peace in the country.

    The National Commandant of PCN, Amb. Dickson Akoh said despite being subjected to series of institutional and fundamental challenges PCN has so far triumph adding that its achievements over the years is the most recent passage of a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps by the House of Representatives on June 9, 2016.

    Akoh said it is the hope of all that the Bill will scale through third reading at the Senate.

     

     

  • Saraki vows to continue probe of alleged TSA fraud

    Saraki vows to continue probe of alleged TSA fraud

    The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has said that no amount of intimidation will stop the assembly from investigating the alleged N25 billion Treasury Single Account (TSA) fraud.

    Saraki was reacting to a motion moved by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) on Tuesday over a newspaper article allegedly blackmailing the Senate for pointing out the alleged fraud.

    He said the assembly would not relent in carrying out its constitutional duties, including pointing out any action that would be detrimental to Nigerians.

    “No amount of either blackmail or intimidation will stop us from doing the work we have to do.

    “We have a responsibility here to ensure that there are no leakages in government funds and if there are, we will call the attention of the public and do whatever it takes to salvage the situation; it is our responsibility.

    “ The fact about the TSA will come out and everybody will have opportunity before the committee to state the fact, the facts will speak for themselves,’’ he said.

    Saraki said the assembly would expedite action on the inauguration of Standing Committees to enable it to begin its oversight function fully.

    Earlier, Melaye said his attention was drawn to the write-up accusing the Senate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to implement TSA.

    He expressed concern that the writer could conceive such an idea in spite of the National Assembly’s resolve to work with Buhari in fighting corruption.

    Melaye recalled that it was the assembly’s stand on the alleged TSA fraud that led SystemSpecs to refund the one per cent it collected from mopped up funds to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “The writer said we are against the change agenda of Mr President because we raised the abnormality going on with the implementation of the TSA.

    “We did not at any time in this Hallowed Chamber implicate President Muhammadu Buhari of being involved in TSA fraud.

    “ We will not stop carrying out our legislative duties for fear of being blackmailed.

    “The motion moved last week had two prayers.

    “The first thing we did was to thank Mr President and commend him for the implementation of the TSA and for anyone to say the Senate is fighting Mr. President is myopic, parochial and unacceptable.

    “I have a letter here that I am going to lay with this paper, written by the Director, Banking and Payment of CBN to the Managing Director of SystemSpecs.

    “The CBN categorically stated that they should remit the one per cent that they collected.

    “I also have a letter here by the managing director of that company to the Accountant General of the Federation and the Governor of CBN that have completely buttressed and elicited our decision last week.

    “ So for people to blackmail us as irresponsible, it is not acceptable to me and the Senate.

    “Never would we allow blackmail and political and economic bigots to destroy the people. We are for the people and we will stand in defence of public interest,’’ he said.

    The write-up and letters cited by Melaye were referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to be returned to Senate in one week.

    The Senate had on November 11 raised alarm over alleged payment of N25 billion to one e-collection firm, REMITA, in one day as one per cent of monies transferred to TSA.

    It also directed its Committee on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Accounts to carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back in two weeks.