Former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye,
is one whose voice or person cannot be hidden on any major issue.
So, given his frontal role in affairs of the House of
Representatives in the last assembly where he played diametrically
opposite roles with Rep. Farouk Lawan, he became a subject of interest
in the review of the unfolding $3 million bribe scandal in the House.
Melaye also spoke on the spectre of corruption in the country among
other issues. Excerpts:
THIS House seems to have resisted the lure to crisis more than when you were were there. Can you say why?
The crisis was sponsored by the Integrity group headed by Farouk
Lawan solely to humble Madam Patricia Etteh from office. But do not
forget that it was the same Lawan who made it possible for Madam Etteh
to become Speaker and when the same Lawan did not get what he demanded,
that is becoming the Chairman of Appropriation Committee, he plotted to
remove her from office.
Remember that Madam Etteh never stole one kobo. What happened was
that all her budgets were anticipatory and Lawan used it against her
because the committee he got was that of Education. He never liked it
and the woman could not have done otherwise.
Integrity group died
The house Madam Etteh wanted to refurbish for N238million was
renovated by Dimeji Bankole for N400million and the same house was
eventually sold to him. So if I may ask, where is the integrity now that
we have all known that the whole concept was laced with….
But the man tried…..
(Interjects) Tried in what manner. That Integrity Group died
immediately after Etteh was removed from office or did you hear that
the group ever held one meeting throughout the period it existed? Four
weeks before the bubble burst I warned Nigerians that they should not
celebrate Farouk yet with the fuel subsidy probe so his fumbling and
wobbling in the course of carrying out his legislative functions is no
surprise to us that know him too well.
Can you imagine that 14 years after as a national lawmaker, Farouk
could descend so low to visit the residence of Femi Otedola a man he was
probing? What a shame but Nigerians and Nigeria should be able to
separate Farouk from the institution known as the House of
Representatives because the 360 Reps took oaths individually.
The primary objective of the probe which is a resolution of the House
must not be thrown into the garbage because as the Executive Secretary
of an Anti-Corruption body I want the report implemented.
But why would legislators probe when they know that such ventures lead them to problems?
My brother there is no need for probes in the first place if
legislators carry out their legislative functions with the fear of God
and with every sincerity of commitment there will be no need for probes.
Functions of the lawmaker: The functions of the law maker are
basically three, namely the act of adequately representing their people
via the provision of the dividends of democracy; two, the act of making
laws via motions and bills and three, oversight functions. There is no
single MDA that if serious oversight function is carried out will not
give account of all its activities. Once this is done and proper
supervision of projects are carried out there will be no need for
probes.
Probes are manifestation of satanic collaboration between the
National Assembly and the Public Service. But if oversight functions are
diligently carried out at appropriate times this will effectively
police activities of the MDAs and that of the executive. When I was in
the House they gave account of their stewardship (and) I remember we
recalled one minister to give account of books bought twelve years after
he left office that were still on the high seas. After proper
investigation they returned the books. So proper oversight will
substantially take away the stress of probes and these embarrassments
are becoming too much.
Corruption seems to have assumed a larger than life proportion in
Nigeria to the extent that the US has even described the fight against
it in Nigeria as mere lip service. What is your take on this?
Jonathan has no plans to fight corruption in this country. That I
know very well because he is a major factor in the arrogance of Femi
Otedola and this has been shown clearly. How can Femi Otedola disregard
the resolution of the entire House of Representatives saying it is
laughable? If I were to be the Speaker I would have summoned him for
contempt but the President showed his negative trend by describing the
resolution of the House on Fuel Subsidy Regime as mere resolution.
Celebration of mere resolution
But let me remind the President that it was this same mere resolution
that made it possible for him to be Acting President which he
celebrated and even invited them (legislators) to dinner in his house.
When Arunma Oteh was indicted by the Capital Market Probe, she was
asked to step aside but when Mrs. Deziani was accused by the Fuel
Subsidy Panel nothing was said and she was a primary actor as Chairman
of the board of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and above
all the minister that supervises the petroleum sector. This is a clear
case of personalizing offices and making the fight against corruption a
child’s play.
The state of insecurity today in the country is alarming what do you think could be done to redress the situation?
It is very sad that our President could leave the country to attend a
carnival in Brazil when this country was fast being swallowed by a
conflagration that he has not been able to quench since assumption of
office as Acting President. This is a clear indication of somebody that
displays of insensitivity to the security of the people of this country.
To worsen the situation the spokesman of this government, Labaran
Maku came out to say the president can rule from any part of the world
confirming to us that Mr. President is a ruler not a leader. What
Nigerians need is a leader not a ruler that can rule from any part of
the world.
Culled: VANGUARD
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