Fear In Saraki’s Camp As Dino Melaye, Other Senators Keep Silent

Attempts to get the reaction of Senator Bukola Saraki’s political ally, Senator Dino Melaye, to the warrant of arrest issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal against the Senate President yesterday met a brick wall.
Melaye, known widely as one of Saraki’s most vocal supporters, declined comment when our correspondent contacted him yesterday, raising suspicion that the proverbial hand of the clock may have turned a full circle at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Melaye, the spokesman of Senator Saraki’s campaign for the Senate President position, had maintained his vocal posture while Saraki defied the All Progressives Congress’ directive on the filling of Senate positions.

He is currently facing his own legal challenges in the Kabba/Lokoja Senatorial constituency where Senator Smart Adeyemi is seeking a reversal of Melaye’s victory in the 2015 senatorial elections.

Melaye, who is currently the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity. declined to send any response to our reporter’s text message demanding his reaction.

Before and after the text message, about 15 calls our correspondent made to his phone went unanswered.

Repeated calls and text messages made to the telephone lines of other senators also went unanswered while two of them sought more time as they cautiously weighed the implications of the development.

The fate of the four committees inaugurated by the Senate on July 29, this year may hang in the balance if the power equation, including the Saraki leadership of the Senate is altered as a result of the unfolding developments.

The four committees are the Selection Committee, the Rules and Business Committee, the Ethics and Privileges Committee and the Ad-hoc Committee on Publicity.

Senate President Bukola Saraki heads the Selection Committee while the Rules and Business Committee is headed by Senator Babajide Omoworare from Osun East Senatorial District and the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee has Senator Samuel Anyanwu from Imo East Senatorial District as its Chairman.