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Is there any good in Dino Melaye? Profiling Controversy

Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State, Dino Melaye has been labelled by some members of the public as a ‘thug’ while others say he is a ‘controversial nice guy who does not know how to package himself’, and others admire the fact that he is a young, bold, courageous and confident politician.

Senator Melaye who first came into politics ten years ago during the Obasanjo-led administration, was elected as a House of Representative member representing Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.

In his first year, the Senator exchanged blows with two of his colleagues Emmanuel Jime (Benue) and Samuel Sejoro (Lagos) during an investigation into the then Speaker, House of Representative, Patricia Etteh’s N628m renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy.

This caused commotion in the House, which in turn led to the adjournment of the investigation. The Speaker and her deputy later resigned their positions.

In 2009, Melaye was said to have accused three principal officers Tunde Akogun (House Leader), Baba Shehu Agaie (Deputy House Leader) and Emeka Ihedioha (Chief Whip), of corruption and mismanagement of funds, which almost led to Melaye’s suspension. He however denied, saying he did not accuse the Chief Whip of fraud, but of social sins, highhandedness and arrogance.

In 2010, he alongside 11 other Lawmakers, gave the leadership of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole, seven days to resign accusing him of corruption and bad leadership which they claimed was responsible for the rift between the House and the Senate then.

Melaye threatened to publish evidences and write petition that every member, including the ones on recess, will sign physically and send to the EFCC, ICPC, NSA, SSS and the headquarters of his political party, if Bankole did not comply.

Two weeks later, Melaye and his cohorts were brutalized, almost stripped and bundled out of the chamber for disrespecting the Speaker. Nine of the eleven lawmakers, including Melaye, were suspended and told to stay away from the House till the end of the legislative year.

They however went to the Federal High Court, Abuja where they challenged their suspension, and the court subsequently ruled that their suspension was illegal and ordered their reinstatement.

Melaye, who is presently a strong supporter of the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, was alleged to operate a checking and savings account with a US bank, in violation of Nigeria law, a report he has not denied. Nigeria’s Code of Conduct Bureau clearly prohibits the use of foreign accounts by elected and public officials.

Melaye, though unmarried, has also criticised the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, for ‘importing his wife’ rather than marrying a Nigerian woman, saying he would rather marry a ‘made in Nigeria’ wife.

It was widely reported that the Kogi West Senator had threatened to beat up Senator Oluremi Tinubu and ‘impregnate’ her during a Senate closed-door session. He denied using those words on her saying, “Biologically, it is even impossible to impregnate Mrs. Tinubu because she has arrived menopause. How can you say you want to beat somebody and at the same time impregnate the person?”

In June 2017, a process to recall Senator Melaye from the National Assembly was kick started, but as at September, the case was transferred to the Appeal Court.

The Senator also accused the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of spending over N1bn tax payers’ money on an unproductive venture, when salaries and pensions have not been paid, adding that he would continue to defend the poor and defenseless people of Kogi State. He has also accused the Governor of plotting to remove him.

Melaye has been involved in various certificate dispute in 2017, including his claim to have obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University and a degree from the prestigious Boston-based Ivy League, Harvard University, in the United States, which has not been verified.

Melaye was eventually cleared by the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University who appeared before the Senate Committee to confirm that Senator Dino Melaye graduated from the school, although under a slightly different name as is common in Nigeria.

The Senator also claims to have earned seven degrees from various institutions around the World, including Harvard University Kennedy School for Educational Leadership, and London School of Economics and Political Science, a claim that was refuted by both institutions.

Harvard claimed Melaye presented himself for a week long professional development course in late 2016, while LSE claimed there’s no evidence on its database that the Senator ever obtained any degree there. His colleague and former majority leader of his party (APC) Sen. Ali Ndume called on the House to probe Melaye’s claims.

Melaye has won several Awards including Most Vibrant Honourable member, Abuja merit Awards, African Parliamentarian of the year 2005 in U.S.A, Icon of Good Leadership by Kogi Peoples Forum, Senator of the year Award 2016 amongst others.

He has also agreed that the leaders, including himself have failed Nigeria and the younger generation, adding that there is no connection between the leadership and followership in the Country. He further stated that there was no trust between the governed and those governing.

Melaye said he has attracted over thirty federal projects to his Senatorial district, spread across the seven Local Governments, adding that Schools, Hospitals among other infrastructures have been built.

He noted that he has about 56 projects in the present budget running into billions, including the Kaaba-Ilorin express road for his Senatorial District adding that he has done a lot of empowerment scheme and skill acquisition programs as well as scholarship programmes for indigent students and the recent distribution of bags of rice to Workers in Kogi State amongst others.

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