Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo of unleashing a misplaced anger on the present National Assembly.
Senator was reacting to Obasanjo’s letter which he addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly, drawing their attention to corruption that had ruled the law making body since the beginning of democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement today, Melaye said that it was the former president who exposed the legislature to corruption, describing Obasajo’s action through the letter as misplacement of anger.
He said that though he has tremendous respect for the former President, but that if the truth must be told, Obadanjo’s letter to the 8th National Assembly on issue of corruption, introduced by himself to the fourth Assembly, was uncalled for, more so when the 8th Assembly and in particular the 8th Senate, has nothing to do with corruption.
He said that though he is against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, but that he will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness.
Part of the text of Senator Melaye reads: “I have tremendous respect for President Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo. Elder statesman, respected pan Africanist and committed patriot. I went through the letter written to all Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
“The letter I can see, is a misplacement of anger. Our leader is mistaken the 8th National Assembly as the same Senate Assembly that defrauded him in 2007. Those who collected his money and refused to implement the 3rd term agenda. I appeal to baba that we are not the ones please.
“After nine years of that bribery saga, the first of its kind, I expect forgiveness to have taken place. There was the case of bribery introduced by the Obasanjo regime in the desperate attempt to remove Speaker Ghali Umar Na’abba from office then. In fact there was open display of that bribery money on the floor of the house.
“That government exposed the National Assembly to corruption and easy money. I hope this is not in an attempt to cover up and distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens corruption allegations.
“While I am against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, I will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness. The 8th Senate should also look inwardly and purge herself of all the deliberate misgivings of the past. Nigeria must work and we must support the anti corruption stand of the Buhari Administration. God bless Nigeria.” [myad]
