Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday queried the recent actions of the federal government towards members of the National Assembly but insisted that nobody can intimidate the members and leaders from performing their statutory functions.
Saraki stated this on the floor of the Senate while reacting to a point of order raised by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on his alleged travails in the hand of the Federal Government.
He noted that the Senate will continue to defend democracy no matter the cost.
Saraki, who particularly took a swipe at unnamed Federal Government functionaries, said there was no doubt that their actions were destroying the image of government, instead of helping to shore up its integrity.
Melaye had drawn the attention of the Senate to what he described as witch-hunting by the Federal Government by suing him for alleged misinforming the police on his “attempted assassination”.
Saraki said: “Senator Dino Melaye, your points are well noted and I do not see how the issue of arraignment can be a way forward in a matter like this. But be that as it may, I want us all to continue to defend democracy and fight for what is right and I can assure you that this institution will continue to stand for what is right.
“Those who think that they are helping the government, but sometimes they are doing things that are not in the interest of this democracy. I think they need to do what is right for the interest of all of us. But for sure, what is wrong is wrong. I think those who are looking at this will have a review and do what is right.”
Melaye, in his point of order, said he has elected to always draw attention to infringements of the law.
He said he was prepared to pay the supreme sacrifice, if need be in the defence of democracy.
The Kogi West senator insisted that if his trial was meant to stop him from speaking out, even criticising President Muhammadu Buhari if he did anything wrong, those behind his trial have failed.
He vowed to use the last drop of his life to fight what he perceived attempts to silence him and stop him from speaking truth to power.
Melaye said: “If this arraignment in Kogi State is to stop me from criticising the Federal Government, they have committed a capital compound mistake. I shall continue to speak. I shall continue to ask questions. I shall continue to criticise any public officer, including the president of Nigeria, where he has gone wrong.
“I have conquered fear and I am not afraid of the prison. The last administration arrested me 14 times. The Abacha and Babangida’s governments detained me. I am not afraid of the prison. It is built because of human beings. But we will continue to speak the truth, not minding whose ox is gored.”
Saraki did not allow debate of the issue Melaye raised because he came under order 43 – personal explanation.
