Obasanjo introduced corruption to national assembly - Senator says

dimeji akinloye

January 28, 2016 8:58 PM

In Obasanjo's letter to the assembly, he condemned its plan to purchase 469 cars worth N4.7billion.

Senator representing Kogi west, Dino Melaye, has reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's letter to the National Assembly, describing it as a misplaced anger.

Melaye on Thursday, January, 28, who acknowledged his respect for Obasanjo, accused him of corruption.

He said the ex-president introduced corruption into the national assembly in his bid to run for a third term in office.

READ: Obasanjo writes to Saraki, Dogara, criticizes plan to buy 469 cars

“I have tremendous respect for president Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo. Elder statesman, respected pan Africanist and committed patriot. I went through the letter written to all senators and members of the house of representatives. The letter I can see is a misplacement of anger,” he said.

Melaye continued; "our leader is mistaking the eighth national assembly as the same senate assembly that defrauded him in 2007. Those who collected his money and refused to implement the 3rd term agenda. I appeal to baba that we are not the ones please. After nine years of that bribery saga, the first of its kind, I expect forgiveness to have taken place.

"There was the case of bribery introduced by the Obasanjo regime in the desperate attempt to remove speaker Ghali Umar Na’abba from office then. In fact, there was open display of that bribery money on the floor of the house. That government exposed the national assembly to corruption and easy money.

"I hope this is not in an attempt to cover up and distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens corruption allegations. While I am against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, I will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness.

"The eighth senate should also look inwardly and purge herself of all the deliberate misgivings of the past. Nigeria must work and we must support the anti corruption stand of the Buhari administration. God bless Nigeria.”

Earlier, the senate President, Bukola Saraki, had also replied Obasanjo's letter, expressing gratitude to the former president for his consistent role reminding people in government on the need to be responsible and accountable.

dimeji akinloye