The Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital
Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, on Wednesday said he is ready to criticize even President of Nigeria, and that he is not afraid to go to prison.
Melaye who represents Kogi West senatorial district
in the senate made this known in a statement which a copy was made available to journalists in Lokoja drawing the attention of the upper legislative
chamber to the charges filed against him by the federal government.
The government had accused Melaye of framing Chief
of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Edward David, in the alleged assassination
attempt on his (Melaye) life.
The senator who is expected to appear before the
court in March argued that those who attempted to kill him in April were
paraded by the police.
He wondered why the federal government would quote
the police as saying he gave false information in the naming of the suspects.
Vowing not to be intimidated, Melaye said he would
continue to criticise any public office holder.
Melaye said:
“Edward is the chief of staff to Kogi State governor, and Taofeek is the
caretaker Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area of the state. I stated this
in my statement to the Nigerian police.
“As a result
of that information, they immediately moved to the residence of Taofeek where
ammunition was recovered immediately that morning. If naming suspects now
becomes misinformation, I am wondering. The police swung into action. The
tactical command of the Inspector General of Police (IG) swung into
action.
“Ten days after, they apprehended six out of the 10
that came to kill me. Not only were they apprehended, the spokesperson of the
Nigerian police paraded them at a national press conference. “Not only were they paraded, the spokesperson
of the Nigerian police informed Nigerians that all the riffles used for their
missions have to be recovered by the police. Not only was the ammunition
recovered, confessional statements were made by those who were directly
involved and they also invited this same Taofeek.
“I shall
continue to speak. I shall continue to ask questions. I shall continue to
criticise any public officer including the President of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
“I have
conquered fear; I am not afraid of the prison. The last administration arrested
me 14 times; Sani Abacha’s government detained me. Ibrhim Babangida’s
government detained me. I am not afraid of the prison. It is built because of
human beings but we will not stop speaking the truth.
“In an unjust society, silence is a crime. The battle
to bring Nigeria back on track from these criminals in power is a battle of no
retreat no surrender, and I am ready to fight the federal government on this
matter with the last drop of my blood.”
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