APC senator on Melaye: You fight for change and this is the kind of treatment you get

Muhammed Shittu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator from Jigawa state, says Nigerians did not vote in this government to be mistreated.

He said this while reacting to the alleged maltreatment of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, by the police.

Melaye sustained injuries after jumping out of a moving police vehicle on Monday. He has since been admitted at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Speaking on the floor of the upper legislative chamber after Sam Anyanwu, senator representing Imo east, moved a motion on Melaye’s issue, Shittu said everybody should be treated according to the law.

“The law now works against people who are perceived to be enemies. You fight for change and this is the kind of change we are experiencing today. There are proofs and I know because of what I’ve said, I can be killed. I don’t mind being killed,” he said.

“It is good for one to speak the truth and be killed. What is happening to us today is not fair and we have the rights to our opinions. Everybody is against the national assembly as if we are the enemies of this nation. We are not enemies. We are representatives of the people and as such, we must speak the truth. We should condemn, in totality, what is happening. What is happening is not the change.

“If this is change, I doubt if I can continue under this kind of environment. And I know a lot of people share a similar opinion with me.

“This is no change. We didn’t vote this government to be mistreated. We didn’t vote this government to abuse court processes and procedures. It’s not fair, we advise the government to change before it is late.”

On his part, Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, said the country is gradually getting close to a totalitarian state.

He said what is happening to Melaye is an onslaught on democracy.

“My main concern is this, whatever we do today because we are in power, we may be at the receiving end tomorrow. We should understand that power is temporary. It is an opportunity for you to serve,” Sani said.

“This is not the best of time for some people to speak up for the fear of being targeted. And election season is at hand and people want their ticket back.

“People need to understand that life itself is temporary, who gave you the assurance that you’ll be up to 2019. What happened to Dino is an onslaught on democracy.

“For people like us, I know very well I’m also a target and I will fall into the situation of Dino but I’m not bothered. What bothers me is to say the truth as it is. People who have worked erroneously and sacrificed their lives and resources to see the change we need today have consistently been tagged or targeted as enemies of the president.”