‘Dino Melaye will do anything for money if the pay is right from a willing paymaster,’ a friend, Mohammed, who is familiar with Dino’s antics right from his school days in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, once said disappointedly about this latter day activist .
Since losing out in his bid to continue his legislative journey in the House of Representatives, Dino has suddenly found a goldmine in the world of civil society business. For him, a vindictive anti-corruption crusade is the sure path towards sustaining a dwindling financial fortune. In the last one year, Otunba Dino (as he wants to be fondly called), has selectively pursued a shameful campaign against targeted PDP stalwarts holding key positions in Jonathan’s government to justify why Bola Tinubu must finance his Senatorial ambition for Kogi West ahead 2015.
By history and antecedents, does Dino have any moral justification or any good conscience left in him to fight corruption? Sadly, this man known for patronizing pharmacies at night for sex-enhancing drugs, is very gifted in seizing the moment, exploring loopholes and cashing in on existing frictions to negotiate a deal with a paymaster that is ready to play the ball in his anti-corruption crusade. Guess his target this time around: Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has been secretly dolling out hundreds of millions to fight and discredit anything that is of the Jonathan’s administration. The Rivers State governor, gave the Deputy Senate President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) the sum of N29 million to mobilize students against the Jonathan’s administration recently. He has been fingered as secretly financing the ASUU struggle. About two months ago, he gathered some willing members of the Civil Society from all over the country in Port Hacourt, for a paid protest. Hundreds of millions of naira was sunk in that aborted covert operation.
Dino has been able to identify a spendthrift in Amaechi, hence looking for when it is right to have his own share of Rivers money. Unfortunately, the raging controversy over the car deal in the Ministry of Aviation has provided that sure link for Dino to hit yet another jackpot. Dino is fully aware that Stella Oduah has stepped on many toes in the ongoing reform of the aviation industry. It is on good authority that he once told a confidant that two individuals, Amaechi and Wale Babalakin would be good targets to make cool cash off. Both men, who certainly have deep pockets, are direct and indirect victims of the aviation reform. Dino is very much abreast of the impasse generated by the grounded airline belonging to Rivers State government for violating aviation rules and Babalakin running battle with FAAN, an agency of the aviation ministry. He knows all these and has been looking for that money-spinning moment to do some abracadabra.
Stepping on toes is usually one of the biggest challenges of carrying out a reform in any sector. Certainly, no reformist will find it easy to make a change in any sector with entrenched interests from some members of the political class or business cabals. Aside the alleged Aviation Cars scandal, Stella Oduah still has many battles to contend with. The protest being organized by Dino Melaye and cronies against Oduah is certainly one of those battles. For those that will be joining Dino to do this protest, kindly demand for a fair share of money sent in dollar denomination by Gov. Amaechi through his Chief of Staff, Tony . The cash was delivered 9pm on Tuesday (N72 Million in first installment), while the balance of N38 Million will be paid on Thursday. The agreement is for the protest to be sustained for three days. Wednesday – Federal Secretariat, Thursday – National Assembly and Friday – at a yet to be determined location in Lagos State.
Dino is full of tricks, so while he will be praying for security agencies to scuttle the planned protest, there is every tendency that he will be using a front to contact Wale Babalakin to key into this protest against Oduah by bringing out cash to ‘kill a common enemy’. Certainly this is a good moment for Dino to further make his empty noise and enjoy some cool millions. It is quite unfortunate that the car issue which should be thoroughly investigated to guard against witch-hunting has come at this time that the country is witnessing a massive turn around. However, it is expected, irrespective of the gang-up against the Aviation Minister or any of the agency, nothing should stop them from doing the right thing. Reforms come with pain, but the end certainly will justify the need.
Placing Dino side by side with his own history, one could only pity his obsession for dirty money. He was at the fore front of the Ettehgate scandal in the House of Representatives. He fought that futile battle to protect his pocket and chairmanship seat of a lucrative committee. The same man is today sermonizing about corruption. If Dino is serious about the fight against corruption and not motivated by money and politics, let him take to the streets to protest the Lekki scandal and Lagos government’ purchase of armoured cars.
The recent buy–back of the Lekki Concession rights is unarguably the biggest scandal ever perpetuated by a state governor. A deal by Fashola to settle Tinubu for 2015 election money. Yet Dino, his other twitter activists and Lagos critics will pretend not to know. The Lagos State government is reported to have bought three armoured cars for N600 millions, yet the likes of Dino and Femi Falana, SAN, will never ask questions from all these. Nigerians are fully aware of their antics. The only man that has remained impartial even in death is late Chief Gani Fawehinmi of the blessed memory. It is very sad.
With the likes of Dino Melaye, the fight against corruption has been totally compromised and is now a lucrative venture. The current noise by Dino is just a storm in a teacup. President Goodluck Jonathan is quite aware that this is part of an organized set up to pull him down. Those funding this campaign against Oduah know that she worked tirelessly for Jonathan’s emergence in 2011 and may be strategically involved for 2015. The battle is on, but for Dino, he should be conscious of the future of his children. Certainly this struggle is money making venture for people like Dino and by extension, a conspiracy beyond aviation car deal saga.
Written By Stephen Anayo
My problem isn’t with Dino, my problem is with the fools he’s leading to protest, is like a blind man leading people. I have always known that Nigerian politics is dirty, where people under the guise of activism propagate their selfish agendum. I heard about the 3 armored jeeps bought by Fashola, 2 for himself and 1for Tinubu two years ago, and nobody said nothing even our all knowing Sahara reporters. My grouse is that Stella let herself to fall into their trap. It’s best she resigns, she can still contribute to the government if she wishes the government well from the background. Their target is Jonathan and she should do the honorable for Jonathan’s sake. As for Amaechi, he’s somebody I know personally and loved before, but when I saw how over ambitious he was, I started disliking him. He’s just building his own coffin, only time will tell.
Where in the world do they still write like this,…such a shame
so, yours is disguised begging??? ….or you simply want to be heard??? …okay, make a sincere confession, who paid you to write this??? …or you simply want to heat up the polity??? …you think, Amaechi is the only/biggest problem of Mr. president, so once you mention his name here, every body will be convinced, abi??? …
go look for a job, bro. ….this is not good for you
you are goat for putting up this kind of shameful article. if it is your father’s money will you have supported stella to buy 2 BMWs with 250million? posterity will not forgive people like you
What Rubbish? I cannot remember the last time I read so much bullshit in one article. Who the hell is this wierdo? Giving us dog crap in large amounts. Are you trying to say that “The Jonathan Administration” has done anything positive to the Nigerian people? We all know you got paid to write or you are trying to get paid for writing, so why don’t you think of you own kids? Personally, I couldn’t care a thing for any politician, but for a numb-nut to come writing articles to try and praise a messed up administration is absurd. May God help you.
@Adebayo (comment 3), I don’t blame you, well, what do you know? You are entitled to comment too, so you decided to add more horse-shit to the already full dose of garbage we’ve been served. I think you also need help.
Empty head making empty observations. Please be reasonable and look for something to do with your life. Tnx for your anticipated obedience.
What Rubbish? I cannot remember the last time I read so much bullshit in one article. Who the hell is this wierdo? Giving us dog crap in large amounts. Are you trying to say that “The Jonathan Administration” has done anything positive to the Nigerian people? We all know you got paid to write or you are trying to get paid for writing, so why don’t you think of you own kids? Personally, I couldn’t care a thing for any politician, but for a numb-nut to come writing articles to try and praise a messed up administration is absurd. May God help you.
@Adebayo (comment 3), I don’t blame you, well, what do you know? You are entitled to comment too, so you decided to add more horse-shit to the already full dose of garbage we’ve been served. I think you also need help.
If it ll take the dirty people to expose the dirtiest then let it be. If the dirtiest ve anything to show us about the dirty let them come out to show us. This write up is a sponsor sh*t.
If it ll take the dirty people to expose the dirtiest then let it be. If the dirtiest ve anything to show us about the dirty let them come out to show us. This write up is a sponsor sh*t.
Your article is also sponsored. The truth is that, d amount is outrageous.
Your article is also sponsored. The truth is that, d amount is outrageous.
This is terrible Journalism; a shitload of bullcrap *forgive the french*. I am extremely annoyed after reading this, Anayo or whatever you call yourself? U have made no point, only whoring urself out to pro-Jonathan politicians so u can make some money for urself, If I catch u ehn, *mofo* mstchewww
This is terrible Journalism; a shitload of bullcrap *forgive the french*. I am extremely annoyed after reading this, Anayo or whatever you call yourself? U have made no point, only whoring urself out to pro-Jonathan politicians so u can make some money for urself, If I catch u ehn, *mofo* mstchewww