Jonathan’s administration and corruption are synonymous – Dino Melaye

Former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, has described the present administration under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan as the worst the country has ever had. He made the statement on Wednesday at an anti- corruption symposium organised by Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chambers held at Julius Berger hall, University of Lagos. According to reports from TELL, Melaye cited cases whereby President Jonathan has condoned the conduct of corrupt leaders, making particular reference to the delay in the probe of Diezani Madueke, Petroleum minister, who he said has continued to brag that no one can prosecute her without Jonathan’s approval. Corroborating Melaye’s claim, Monday Ubani, immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, Ikeja, Lagos branch said Jonathan’s administration had been handling cases of corruption on the part of leaders with levity. With the theme, “Corruption, Misgovernance and Impunity: the Bane of Nigeria’s Socio-economic Development and Prospects,” the symposium also has Debo Adeniran, Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt leaders; Barrister Taiwo Taiwo, former Chairman of NBA, Lagos; Barrister Emeka Ugwuonye, Chairman, ECULAW Group; Professor Ayo Atsenuwa and Barrister Oladapo Ojo, Principal Solicitor, Olasupo Ojo & co as guest speakers. In his own speech, Ugwuonye said corruption is promoted as most of the people who earn their living through corrupt means are honored with different chieftaincy titles while honest citizens remain unrecognised. Each of the guest speakers then urged the youths not to keep silent on campaigns against corruption. Melaye also used the medium to charge the students to make moves to ensure that the Students’ Union Government, SUG, is restored in the institution. He noted that student unionism serves as leadership training centre for youths. “Banning student unionism goes against freedom of association stipulated in Section 38, 39 and 40 of the African Charter,” Melaye said “and just as Mbu has no authority to ban the Bring Back Our Girls protest, no one has the right to forbid lawful student unionism,” he said.