The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, has said he is neither plotting nor instigating the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari as alleged by some media platforms.
According to him, the people spreading the falsehood were those who believe that a Nigeria that is not led by them must not exist.
The Kogi West Senatorial District representative said the allegation is the narrative of the attack dogs of demagogues who have decided to turn Nigeria upside down for failing to choose leaders for Senators.
He said in a statement released on Wednesday: “It is pertinent to note that the incredulously machinated misinformation was orchestrated by forces bent on destabilising the upper chambers of the Nigerian Parliament for selfish reasons.
“One of the mushroom and faceless online platforms used to promote the ill-fated and calumnious write-up has been notorious for serving as the propagandist machinery of political commercialists who are pushing for the extension of their fiefdom to the National Assembly.
“While I remain unimpeachably committed to the leadership of the Senate, I believe the respected arm of government charged with the onerous responsibility of law making should be given the independence to conduct its business.
“It is untrue and malicious; the allegation is the narrative of the attack dogs of demagogues who have decided to turn Nigeria upside down for failing to choose leaders for Senators.
“I am a responsible Nigerian, role model and a champion of anti-corruption and equity which my party (APC) stands for. I therefore urge the general public to discountenance the libellous publication as I will continue to respect the history, culture and excellence of my Kogi West people on the floor of the Senate. The true threat to the current Republic are those who believe that a Nigeria that is not led by them must not exist.”
The report is coming on the heels of what transpired in the House of reps on Tuesday.
Major newspapers had reported that the Senate threatened to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged forgery case of 2015 Standing Order involving the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
It had also been reported that Melaye and the Chairman, Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC, Lagos Central had been involved in a standoff over the matter when the executive session of the Senate went rowdy on Tuesday.
A shouting match had ensued when the Tinubu called on the senators to fight the Presidency to a standstill and was said to have issued threats. It was at this point that Senator Tinubu asked Melaye why he should call for the suspension of the senators and confront the President.
Senator Tinubu was said to have warned the Senate to guard against being reduced to a kindergarten court where senators could just issue childish threats, and called on senators to close ranks and seek reconciliation among themselves. That was when Melaye flew into a rage.
“You can’t talk to me the way you talk to other people; you must respect yourself,’’ Melaye was said to have roared.
The statement caused a commotion on the floor as senators in her support gathered to protect her.
A similar situation was equally underway in the House of Representatives, where a row broke out over the amendment of the constitution to provide immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly and state legislatures.
The row was ignited following the decision of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to refer the issue to the Constitution Amendment Committee for deliberation, instead of being debated on the floor of the House.
Meanwhile the Senate went into a closed door session which lasted for an hour to discuss, among others, how to move the red chambers forward, devoid of crisis.
It was revealed that the meeting was designed to get senators with court cases against the Senate leadership to withdraw the cases and return peace to the Upper Chamber.
At the meeting, it was observed that the mood of well over 90 percent of the senators was to suspend those ‘ erring’ members in the Senate Unity Forum (SUF) who dragged the Senate President, Senator Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and others to court over alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Order.
A source said that the move to suspend the senators was arrived at on Monday, preparatory to yesterday’s resumption.
The source added that shortly after commencement of the executive session, some senators called on their colleagues, led by Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North) and Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), to sheathe their swords and withdraw the petition that led to the criminal prosecution of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The source said: “Senate resolved today (yesterday) to suspend those who dragged the Senate President and others to court over alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Order.
“The Senate moved to suspend the erring senators and resolved that there was nothing like forgery. The mood of the Senate was to suspend them and 90 percent of the senators, both of PDP and APC, agreed to suspend them. Senators wanted to prove the supremacy of the legislature.”
“Following their refusal to adhere strictly to the report of the senate Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, led by Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta South), there was a motion by Senator Dino Melaye that they should be suspended.”
It was revealed that those billed for suspension include Senators Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West); Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North); Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central); Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South), as well as other members of Senate Unity Forum, SUF.
The source said the executive session, which was chaired by Saraki, also reminded the Senate that a committee, led by former Senate President, David Mark, had been set up to “reconcile” members.
Curiously, Mr. Mark stood and said he was not informed that he chaired such a committee and that he didn’t know any of the members. He was simply told to do his “work”.
Beat my wife and see what I’ll do – Bola Tinubu
Responding to the development, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has vowed to deal with Senator Dino Melaye , if he dared to put hand on his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Tinubu, who Spoke through his spokesman, Sunday Dare, said, Melaye’s comments was a major low for him.
Dare, writing on his Twitter handle, said: “And if Dino thinks nothing will happen if he dare beats up another Senator, then he must be living in a fools paradise”.
“Things will happen. Dino Melaye sunk to the lowest ever today.