The Chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator
Dino Melaye, has said he escorted Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of Senate
President Bukola Saraki, to face the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission’s interrogators as “as a private investigator and an
anti-corruption crusader”.
In a statement on Friday, entitled ‘Stand up for what you believe in
regardless of the popularity or acceptance of your belief’, Melaye
stated that he had no regret for his action.
The Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly added
that he followed Mrs. Saraki to the EFCC to find out the extent of
culpability of his “sister and friend” since she was not told the
content of the petition against her.
Melaye claimed that he was arrested 14 times in one year by the
administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as a result of his
commitment to seeing a country where his unborn grandchildren would
dwell in a nation where life was already structured for them.
He said, “The invitation of Mrs. Toyin Saraki by the EFCC, however,
is not a criminal indictment. I will not abandon my friend because of
mere EFCC invitation. I also went there as a private investigator and an
anti-corruption crusader to find out the extent of culpability of my
sister and friend since she was not told the content of the petition
against her before her appearance before the EFCC.
“I
will start by saying that my struggle to fight corruption in Nigeria
was not an assignment or a paid job. It was borne out of passion and
desire to build a new Nigeria where justice, equity and egalitarianism
becomes a new order.
“I was arrested 14 times in one year by the administration of
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan because I desire a country where my
grandchildren (that I may never know) will dwell in a nation where life
is already structured for them. I cannot throw away my sacrifice of
being beaten and my clothes torn on the floor of the House of
Representatives because of fighting against corruption. I have come too
far to compromise my stand on corruption and corrupt persons.
“I make bold here to challenge anybody who will controvert the truth
that I have never done any government contract, either at the LG, state
or federal levels. It is not criminal to do so, but he who must come to
equity must come with clean hands. I have made sacrifices to the extent
of escaping assassination.
“Will my fellow citizens forget all these too quickly on the altar of
loyalty to friends, family and loved ones? My loyalty to friends is not
only when the going is good. I will be there even when the roads are
rough.”