Nigeria: Rep Dino Melaye Resigns

In an episode reminiscent of the Biblical story of Esther, Haman and Mordechai, the plot to oust Mr Emeka Ihedioha, (PDP, Imo State) as the chief whip of the House of Representatives led to the forced resignation of Rep Dino Melaye (PDP Kogi)

Nigeria: Rep Dino Melaye Resigns

Haman planned to have King Achashverosh kill Mordechai the Jew only for the King at the end of an interesting episode order that Mordechai be honoured and Haman lost his life.

It will be recalled that Mr Dino Melaye the Coordinator of the planned removal of Rep Emeka Ihedioha had addressed a joint press conference yesterday in Abuja, with other four lawmakers, who claimed they were out to cleanse the House of its ‘battered image’ as a result of corrupt practices by Ihedioha and Majority leader of the House, Hon. Tunde Akogun. He insisted that the plot to remove the chief whip was irrevocable.

But on the floor of the House today, some members argued that if there is any need to remove any official on account of the alleged mismanagement of the funds approved by the House for organising events on celebration of the 10 year of democracy in Nigeria and the recently held retreats for members, the entire leadership of the House should go.

In a stiff move, some members argued that it is the primary responsibility of the speaker to organise the10th year celebration of democracy in the House and therefore the buck stops at his table and the blame for failure if any, lies with him and the entire leadership.

The move was said to have alarmed the Speaker, Mr Dimeji Bankole. The fear that the plot might be targeted at Speaker led to a hurried move to allow Mr Melaye and his group to backtrack, but Mr Ihedioha insisted that his name have already been scandalised on the pages of newspapers and nothing could obliterate that fact.

The man that boasted last week that “Emeka Ihedioha is a political obituary”, and insisted that the plot to remove the chief whip was irrevocable turned around to say that the plot is not to remove Ihedioha but to move for a vote of no confidence.

He further claimed that the plot is not “based on allegations of corrupt practices but due to his failure to carry other members of the House along, accusing him of ‘social sins, high headedness and arrogance”.

At this juncture CID Maduabum countered that ‘social sins, high headedness and arrogance’ have never been proved to be a crime!

A member then moved a motion for the suspension of Mr Melaye for three months without pay but the Speaker stood down the motion and implored Mr Melaye to resign instead.

Mr Dino Melaye might well rue this Bible verse: He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. – Proverbs 26:27

Esther 7:10: So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.