ABUJA – In a mild drama from a well crafted script, embattled Sen. Dino Melaye (Kogi West), yesterday, resumed in the Senate and relocated his seat to the minority side.
His seat has been on the side of the majority party, the All Progressive Congress, while the People Democratic Party senators occupy the minority side of the divide.
Sen. Melaye’s relocation followed approval of his request by Senate President Bukola Saraki, who overruled all oppositions to the movement.
He however did not declare if he has converted to PDP, but simply applied that he be permitted to seat by former Senate President David Mark, also of the PDP.
The throated speaking senator, who has just been granted bail by a Kogi state High Court, for alleged gun running and other offences, came under Order 14 of the Senate Rule Book and complained that he was not comfortable seating in the row of the Senate chamber meant for the APC senators.
He therefore, requested the presiding Senate President Bukola Saraki, to mandate the Sargeant-at-arms to give him a new seat in the row meant for the opposition senators, until he recovers from the trauma he suffered in the hands of the police.
He specifically requested for a seat close to the immediate past two term Senate President, David Mark, where he claimed he would be more comfortable for the time being.
His request was Immediately granted by the Senate President, and he was led to his preferred seat by the Sargeant-at-Arms.
At this point, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, welcomed Sen. Melaye back and wished him quick recovery, but challenged his request to change his seat, arguing that he remains a distinguish senator of the APC.
He reminded Dino that he (Ahmad Lawan), was once on the other side of the seating arrangement hence he was better placed to educate him that the majority side, the APC, was better arranged and coordinated than the opposition seat.
He added that Dino Melaye was elected to be in the APC, noting, that if he has any issue with his seat, it could be repaired for him.
He therefore urged that the chief whip be allowrd to go and bring him back to his seat.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu countered Lawan, asserting that, Sen. Melaye “came this morning and complained that he is not comfortable seating in the APC row of the senate”.
He noted that government should be about the welfare of the people, hence moving from his uncomfortable seat to the comfortable place where his welfare is guaranteed.
Moreover, the DSP submitted that the Nigerian Constitution allows freedom of movement and that is what has happened, explaining that Dino Melaye has not defected but just went into a comfortable place.
Similarly, the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, defended the change of seat by Sen. Melaye, adding that the PDP was ready to welcome any other senator that feels that his seat is not comfortable.
He noted that it is not about partisan politics, but the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which allows all to seat at any place.
“As Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they have the rights to seat at the most comfortable seat in the Senate chambers”, he submitted.
Sen. Jibril Barau (APC, Kano), quoted Section 60 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitutional, to raise a constitutional point of order, arguing that every senator shall seat on the seat allocated to him or her by the senate leadership.
He said it is the Senate Chief Whip that should assign him new seat not for him to choose where to seat.
Sen. Olusola Adeyeye (APC, Osun Central), quoted section 65(2b) of the 1999 Constitution, through which he said categorically, that a condition of being a member of National Assembly is that they be members of a political party and sponsored by a party.
This he said Dino Melaye and all other senators have fulfilled. He describe the decision of the Senate President to allow a senator move from the ruling party to the opposition is bad precedence.
Rising on the same wavelength, the Zamfara Central senator, Kabiru Marafa (APC), came up through order 53 (6) to argue that the Senate should not allow Sen. Dino Melaye to move to the PDP side or speak from there.
In his ruling however, the Senate President ruled Marafa out of order, saying the issue of defection does not arise but of comfort of the senator to allow him seat in a comfortable place.
Saraki further submitted that party allegiance has not come up, but that the senator wanted to seat in a comfortable place because of his trauma, hence he ruled that Dino Melaye remain in his comfortable seat pending when he is out of his trauma and fully recover from the trauma.
Later in his speach, Sen. Melaye alleged that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), twice attempted to inject him with a substance but that God intervened and rescued him.
Melaye told his colleagues that he was in their midst by the Grace of God, adding that it is a manifestation that there is God.
He also commended the Senate under the leadership of Saraki for speaking out and defending him.
Melaye also commended the Speaker and members of the House of Representative for showing concern and displaying that injury to one is injury to all.
The senator further commended his constituents in Kogi West for speaking for him especially when he was held back during the recall process.
“I believe that I am alive today because God is with me. The battle to salvage the country from financial cankerworm is a battle of no retreat no surrender.
The parliament should never be intimidated”, he added.
