SENATOR MELAYE'S RECALL :SHOWING PEOPLE THE WAY.

Senator Dino Melaye has been a prominent character in the 8th Republic Senate. His popularity, though controversy-riddened has made him outstanding in a Chamber of 107 other "big men". Coming from a little known Kogi West Senatorial district, Senator Melaye has risen to become a known name in national politics.

From being a Student Union Leader in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to becoming the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He did not stop there as he went on to become the Secretary General of African Youth Council and also the Secretary of the Commonwealth Youth Council. At the young age of 31,he was appointed to head the Presidential Advisory Council of Youth by the Obasanjo-led administration.

Indeed Senator Melaye is a man whose early days took off from great heights.

Senator Melaye evidently excelled beyond student politics, as he made it to the National Assembly. First as a member of the lower House before his election into the Senate.

On his flight to the top, Senator Melaye never shied away from controversy. He has proven to be a very vocal politician and Legislator, as his heavy speeches continue to raise controversy.

Senator Melaye described the past administration that was led by President Goodluck Jonathan as massively corrupt. Overtime we will get to learn that his "assertions" are not reserved only for the opposition, as he has "fired" at party members also. We cannot readily forget his outlash on Senator Remi Tinubu.

Senator Melaye does not always spit fire, as sometimes he comes under heat as well. His financial (mis) dealings once made headlines and he did not deny operating foreign bank accounts. His academic qualifications was recently queried. And he gave a very dramatic defence by appearing in an academic gown, supposedly to prove he has a University degree.

Having been a politician for so long, he clearly has mastered the art of weathering political storms. But politics being what it is, storms prove to be unending.

The latest battle Melaye is facing is a recall from the National Assembly by people of his Senatorial district. And the petition is already amassing signatures. An average Nigerian may not have even heard of legislative recall as a democratic process of removing a serving legislator from office. And the few that may have heard know it as one of the very many practices they read about in textbooks.

Greek mythology are riddened with tales of desperate warriors who in a bid to undermine or conquer an enemy sort the help of beings from the underworld. In a bid to ensure victory, they unleash terror that ends up consuming them as well.
Afterwards, when their purpose was achieved, could not control the actions of the underworld spirits.

Of course this is no Greek tale and there are no underworld spirits. It is just the usual Nigerian politics. Recall is part of democractic process, but it is hardly "exercised" in our clime. If in an attempt to bridle Senator Melaye, his antagonists resort to teaching people their power to recall on the ground of non-performance. This would open the eyes of others and (hopefully) more recalls may follow. If this happens, how many Legislators would remain standing if their performance is weighed on a scale. The recall is simply teaching common Nigerians what to do with a non-performing Legislator and how to ensure the legislator does not continue to waste their chance in the National Assembly.

We should not be subjective about whether or not a legislator is performing well. We must dust up our books and understand the duties and roles of a Legislator, so we would be clear on whose score card falls below impressive.

Somehow it is public glamor if a Legislator gives away motorcycles and tricycles to people of his Constituency. The "kind hearted ones" are hailed as gracious if they secure employment for their relatives and girlfriends. Or build overhead water reservoirs that seldom functions after its commissioning. For the Constituents that have it worse, the only legislative presence they see is a high-walled gigantic mansion that was erected shortly after their legislator made it to elected office. An edifice in a sahara of poverty.

Of course there are shiny Legislators that are truly the peoples representative, but they are only a hand few. A Legislator is basically "onu na ekwuru anyi" (the mouth that speaks for us) ". That is primarily who and what a Legislator should be. If a Legislator can put his foot down and argue constructively in his people's interest, call their plight to the attention of the Government, and ensure his people are included in all opportunities made available to other people. The resultant effect of all these far exceeds the benevolence of the gift of a motorcycle or tricycle.

It is almost ironic that politicians resort to legitimate means to tackle their problems after dirty fight proves unsuccessful. This irony makes a ridicule of our democratic process. How many of our legislators are non - performaning?  If Senator Melaye is recalled on the ground of non-performance, expect many other recalls to follow. The battle of Senator Saraki that led to his trial by a Code of Conduct Tribunal is still fresh on our minds. It is a good illustration of calling down the full weight of the law on your enemy. In the end, if he goes down, be sure he would drag you and many others to the full swing of the Law as well, and if he is found innocent, you have succeeded in keeping his slate clean. You know what they say "those who live in glass houses do not throw stones".

Recall is for Legislators while impeachment is for elected officials in the Executive. Tell me, is it not glaring who we should call for his impeachment for non-performance?