I Spent 124 Days In Custody, Arrested Eight Times In 2017, 18 In 2018 —Melaye

Senator Dino Melaye on Thursday revealed his ordeal in the hands
of the Nigeria Police between 2017 and 2018.

Speaking during the valedictory session of the Senate, the
Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) lawmaker, who represented Kogi
West in the parliament, said that he spent 124 days in police
custody.

Melaye, who said he only campaigned for just eight days to the
2019 election, added that “when the governor of Kogi State and his
allies took on me and planned a recall exercise, I was in police
custody when the recall failed woefully.

“I am here to thank God because in 2017, I was arrested eight
times. In 2018, I was arrested 18 times, and out of 365 days in
2018, I spent 124 in police custody. I campaigned only four days to
the 2019 election.”

Speaking further on his ordeal, the Kogi lawmaker said that last
year alone, he was arraigned in 12 different courts.

Berating the government over their unsuccessful move to remove
the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Melaye noted that many
of those who orchestrated his removal call him their mentor,
adding, “Mr. President, it is your time to laugh”.

“I want to thank God Almighty, who is the supreme controller of
the universe, for being alive and sitting here today. You will
recall severally, Mr. President, I addressed you as the irremovable
president of the Nigerian Senate when cankerworms and caterpillars
arise against thee, when the seat of power took you to Code of
Conduct Bureau, when the state petitioned you and took you to the
courts and established a case of forgery against you.

“Today, Mr. President, you are not just completing your term but
you are going to have a glorious exit against the machinations of
some demons. I congratulate you. And to my surprise, many of those
who orchestrated your removal, downfall, on this floor, called you
their mentor. Mr. President, it is your time to laugh.

“I have every cause to glorify God who is above every other man.
Last year, I was arraigned in 12 different courts but here am I
standing and returned undisputedly as a senator of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. And I say to God alone be the glory forever
and ever.

“I have two historical days I will never forget in the history
of the 8th Senate. One is a day of joy and merriment, the other is
a day of sorrow and pain.

“The day of joy and merriment was the day one single Nigerian
with multiple competences, one man who is indoctrinated with the
art of civil administration and the rudiments of politics,
intellectually mobile and administratively sagacious – I am talking
about the day Abubakar Bukola Saraki became the President of the
Nigerian Senate. And my elder brother and intellectual bank of the
Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, became the Deputy President of the Nigerian
Senate.

“My day of sadness, weeping was the day my own colleague, Ovie
Omo-Agege, led dissidents, thugs to desecrate the chamber of the
Nigerian Senate.

“It was the day he led criminals to move the symbol of authority
out of the sacred chamber of the Senate. And just like the Bible
said, Jesus wept. That day, I wept.”

“Going further, I want to advise us, as senators of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, that once you take the oath of office, you
cease to represent your political party, religious organisation, a
cabal on this platform.

“We must know that in the 9th Assembly, fortunately or
unfortunately, some of us are going to be there. We will continue
to work without fear or favour that Nigeria shall be ahead of any
political permutation, presidential or gubernatorial, party
permutation. Nigeria shall come first before any selfish interest.
And we will stand by that and continue to speak the truth not
minding whose ox is gored.

“I congratulate my colleagues who are coming back. You have
another opportunity to prove that you are truly a Nigerian, because
no Nigerian is more Nigerian than any other Nigerian.

“We must prove that we are here on behalf of the people. And we
must continue to do only those things that will promote the unity
and prosperity of Nigeria.

“Enough of presidential orders, enough of party directives. Any
order that is contrary to the progress, unity and prosperity of
Nigeria should not be entertained on the floor of the Senate.”

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Finally, Kwara Gov appoints Chief of Staff, SSG,
CPS

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has made his first
appointments, comprising the Chief of Staff (CoS), Secretary to the
State Government (SSG) and Chief Press Secretary (CPS).

A statement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary Agboola D
Olarewaju said the appointees are Aminu Adisa Logun (CoS); Mamman
Saba Jibril (SSG); and Rafiu Ajakaye (CPS).

Logun is a pioneer industrialist in Ilorin and an alumnus of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru,
Jos.

He hails from Ilorin, the state capital.

Logun was the chairman of the 80-member Kwara State Transition
Committee appointed by AbdulRazaq.

An alumnus of Barewa College, Zaria, Logun attended King’s
College, Lagos; had a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering
from Loughborough University of Technology; and a Master’s of
Science (M.Sc.) from Birmingham University, both in the United
Kingdom.

He worked at various times in Lever Brothers, Port Sunlight, UK;
Cerekem Arhus, Denmark; North Brewery Limited Kano; Ajaokuta Steel
Company; and Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe. He was also a
General Manager at the New Nigeria Development Company.

Jibril, who hails from Dumagi in Kwara North, was head of the
Geography Department at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna,
where he still teaches

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Master’s of Science
(M.Sc.) in Geography and Planning, and PhD in Geography. He
specialises in Remote Sensing Applications).

Jibril is a member of the Association of Nigeria Geographers and
Cartographic Association of Nigeria.

He has published several articles in local and foreign
journals.

Ajakaye holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and International
Studies and is studying for a Master’s degree (M.A.) in History and
Diplomacy, both from the Lagos State University (LASU).

He hails from Alabe in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara
State.

He was until his appointment the Nigerian correspondent for
Anadolu Agency, Turkish semi-official news medium and world’s fifth
largest news agency.

Ajakaye has reported for various local and international news
media. He has 15 years experience in active journalism as a
politics and development journalist.

He worked at the Daily Independent where he was at various times
a Trainee Reporter, Reporter, Senior Reporter, Acting News Editor
for the weekend titles and Foreign Editor for the newspaper. He had
also worked on the Politics Desk of the paper, and was the
coordinator of its Development page for years.

He has also contributed articles to various international news
platforms. He has vast experience in election reporting in and
outside of Nigeria.

While Ajakaye’s appointment appeals to AbdulRazaq’s oft-stated
belief in empowering qualified young people to achieve their
potentials, his CoS and SSG picks speak to his determination to run
an efficient and knowledge-based administration.

Signed:
Agboola D Olarewaju
Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Kwara State