By Owei Lakemfa
DINO  MELAYE! A man who just three years ago was willing to lay down his precious life in defence of corruption in the House of Representatives is today  the leader of the progressives in the same House fighting Speaker Dimeji Bankole  over corruption. 

We thank the Lord for his life; that a Nigerian politician can turn 360 degrees in such a short time means that there is hope for the country.  Dino’s cross-carpeting from  a pro-corruption law maker to an anti corruption one reinforces my fundamental social belief that man should not be taken for granted; that the human being is changeable.

My fervent prayer is that after leading the rebels in the ongoing civil war in the House, he would not once again change sides. Whatever the case, I’m glad that at least for now, the fiery Dino is on the same side with us, the  progressive Nigerians.

Dino, representing the good people of Kabba, Bunu and Ijumu Federal Constituency had  attracted my attention partly because I love the poetic din of his names; Dino Melaye! He quickly became the Chairman, House Committee on Information and the Dino hurricane was unleashed on the country.

His most ferocious storms were in 2007 during the Ettehgate scandal. The scandal unfolded when Hon Patricia Olubunmi Etteh the beautician who, then, decorated the seat of the House Speaker was accused of misappropriating N620 million under the guise of renovating her official quarters and that of her deputy, Alhaji  Babangida Ngoroje, and buying a fleet of cars.

After unsuccessful attempts to bury the scandal, the House set up the nine-person David Idoko Panel. In all these, the seemingly shy Etteh who appeared incapable of summarising debates in the House, left the fighting to her loyalists led by Dino who seemed an expert in what the legendary Fela Anikulapo –Kuti called roforofo fight.

When on Thursday September 20, 2007, Etteh appeared before the  Panel, Dino led her supporters in persistently clapping for her to give the impression that she was popular and her actions acceptable. To counter them, Hon Emmanuel Jimeh called Etteh a thief and all hell was let lose by the Dino crowd.

They first started by pouring invectives on their rivals before Hon  Ismaila Kolawole threw the first punch at Jimeh and a brawl ensured. It seemed well choreographed and the intention of the Etteh group to disrupt the potentially scandalous public hearing was a success! The Panel adjourned and decided to sit in camera.

At the House sitting, the respected Committee Chairman  on Business and Rules, Hon Ita Enang who inexplicably enlisted in the Etteh-Must-Stay gang, successfully moved a motion that the proceedings of the House containing the misconduct of Dino and Jimeh be expunged.

Etteh’s defence before the Panel was that she did not renovate  a house  in the Speaker’s quarters, but a cluster of houses. No, it is not true she renovated the said house, rather, she “upgraded” it. Contrary to claims that the amount allegedly misappropriated was N620 million, she claimed it was N240 million.

Later the Clerk further clarified that it was N500 million. The Panel indicted Etteh on the charges and Dino, Ita Enang and their group went to court to stop the House debating the Panel Report. In a fight Dino led in the House to stop Etteh’s impeachment, an Honourable member of his group lost his life and Etteh resigned “in the interest  of democracy and Nigeria”.

Under new Speaker, Bankole, Dino retained his chairmanship until he made unsubstantiated allegations of funds mismanagement against the Chief Whip, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

That had marked the beginning of his anti-corruption crusade which today sees him leading the Progressives. Another leader of the Progressives is Hon Ehiogie  West-Idahosa who had lost his chairmanship of the Interior Committee in a failed bid to be House Leader.

When the House had to elect a Speaker pro-tempore to chair the Idoko Panel Report, the Etteh group had nominated West-Idahosa who scored 33 votes to the 255 secured by anti-corruption nominee, Tergu Tsegba. Another Progressives’ leader is  Independence Ogunewe  who had tried to draw Speaker Bankole into  a public brawl on June 2.

The Progressives had given Bankole seven days to  resign or be exposed for corruption.  The impression was if the Speaker resigned, he would not be exposed. In any case, Bankole failed to resign and the Progressives “exposed” him.

They accused him of not properly accounting for the N9 billion capital vote for 2008 and 2009. They also claimed that he over invoiced purchase of cars, television sets, photocopiers, desktop computers and battery torches.

The Bankole group in an expectedly  timid response claimed that what is important is making the dividends of democracy available to us hapless Nigerians.  Its spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, Chair of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs said the youthful Bankole is so concerned about the sorry plight of Nigerians that he bought one of his eight official cars for N52.8 million rather than the N85 million a company had quoted.

So the prudent Speaker saved us quite some money by buying a car for $352,000! In any case, claimed Eyiboh, the Speaker does not award contracts, it is the Clerk’s office. Since when?

Give us a break! Eyiboh promised that the House will debate the allegations and “then we will know the boys from the men”. How will the opinion of the majority in the House prove or disprove fraud?  If Bankole mobilises and gets the House to trash the rag- tag Progressives, would that show he is innocent of the charges?

The Lilliputians in the National Assembly take us for granted. None of them wants Nigerians to know how much of our national wealth they help themselves to monthly or annually in the name of salaries, allowances and constituency allowances.

But when they disagree on how the largesse is shared, if a faction feels cheated or they have nothing to offer Nigerians, mini civil wars are orchestrated, especially in the media.  They think   Nigerians are fools!

Click here and SEE DINO  MELAYE’S AS HE BATTLES AT THE HOUSE OF REP