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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Arewa Revival Project (ARP) has lambasted former Senator Dino Melaye over his description of the 10th National Assembly, particularly the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
Melaye had accused the Senate of operating as an extension of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Villa, a description ARP dismissed as sweeping, politically motivated and unsupported by sufficient evidence.
In a press statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the organisation said criticism of public institutions was a constitutional right but insisted that such criticism must be based on verifiable facts, responsible analysis and objective performance assessments.
Ibrahim questioned the basis for Melaye’s assessment, asking what performance indicators, legislative records and historical comparisons he had relied upon in concluding that the 10th Senate was the worst in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He argued that, as a former member of the National Assembly, Melaye should understand the complexities of parliamentary administration, legislative negotiations, oversight functions and democratic governance.
He maintained that Nigerians deserved evidence-based assessments rather than political statements and sensational declarations.
On the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, he argued that cooperation between both arms of government should not automatically be interpreted as a compromise of legislative independence.
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According to him, the Constitution does not require the National Assembly to oppose every presidential proposal to demonstrate its independence, stressing that effective democratic governance requires institutional cooperation without undermining constitutional responsibilities.
He noted that the legislature’s primary responsibilities include lawmaking, appropriation, oversight and the protection of the constitutional order.
He also defended Akpabio’s leadership, stating that his performance should be assessed fairly through the Senate’s legislative activities, institutional responsibilities and leadership record.
While acknowledging that the Senate President and the National Assembly must remain open to public scrutiny, ARP cautioned against reducing the office of the Senate President to political ridicule because of partisan disagreements.
He further called on Melaye to present specific evidence if he had concerns about legislative misconduct, compromised oversight, financial impropriety or constitutional violations.
He acknowledged that a credible opposition was essential to democracy but maintained that opposition activities should focus on accountability, exposing wrongdoing, offering policy alternatives and defending citizens’ interests.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to responsible governance, national unity, democratic stability and the Renewed Hope agenda, while calling for accountability across all public institutions.
