PDP Condemns Arrest of Melaye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday condemned the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye, just as it accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of carrying out continued assault on the Senate.
In a statement signed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, lamented that the leadership of the Senate and elected senators were being harassed, arrested, detained and even arraigned on trumped-up charges for holding opinion divergent to that of the executive arm.
“The world has been watching with horror since it started with the arraignment of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and other senators on trumped-up charges as well as attempts to rope in Ekweremadu on charges related to treason.
“Today, we are witnessing the harassment and arrest of Senator Dino Melaye, who is known for his support for the Senate leadership and his criticisms of the excesses of the executive arm.
“Currently, Senators Aliyu Wamakko, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Danjuma Goje are all being harassed for holding opinions that do not suit the whims and caprices of the executive.
“Only last week, the security architecture in the National Assembly was compromised, paving the way for the invasion of the Senate chambers by strangers who disrupted proceedings, harassed and threatened our lawmakers and forcefully took away the mace.” The statement said.
PDP alleged that the assault was aimed at silencing strong dissenting voices, emasculate the legislature and prevent it from playing its constitutional duties of checking the excesses and impunity of the executive arm.
He urged Nigerians to look beyond partisan sentiments and join in condemning the attack on the institution of the legislature, “without which we cannot be a democratic nation”.
The PDP appealed to the lawmakers not to allow their spirits to be dampened or buckle to intimidation.