You corrupted members of the National Assembly – Melaye replies Obasanjo

The controversy stirred by the recent letter written by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, berating the National Assembly continues as the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Dino Melaye has accused the elder statesman as being the one that exposed the federal lawmakers to corruption during his tenure.
Melaye, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, also accused Obasanjo of misplacing his anger on members of the 8th National Assembly.
The former acting Senate spokesman disclosed he had expected the retired General to have forgiven members of the 4th National Assembly, who allegedly refused to impeach Speaker Umar Ghali Na’Abba, despite an alleged huge financial inducement.
According to him, “I have tremendous respect for President Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, elder statesman, respected pan-Africanist and committed patriot.
“I went through the letter written to all senators and members of the House of Representatives.
“The letter, as I can see it, is a misplacement of anger. Our leader has mistaken the 8th National Assembly as the same National Assembly that defrauded him in 2007; that is those who collected his money and refused to implement the third term agenda.
“I appeal to Baba that we are not the ones please. After nine years of that bribery saga, the first of its kind, I expect forgiveness to have taken place.
“There was the case of bribery introduced by the Obasanjo regime in the desperate attempt to remove Speaker, Ghali Umar Na’Abba from office then.
“In fact, there was an open display of that bribery money on the floor of the House.
“That (Obasanjo’s) government exposed the National Assembly to corruption and easy money.
“I hope this is not in an attempt to cover up and distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens corruption allegations? While I am against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, I will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness.
“The 8th Senate should also look inward and purge itself of all the deliberate misgivings of the past.
“Nigeria must work and we must support the anti-corruption stand of the Buhari Administration. God bless Nigeria.”