UPDATED: Dino Melaye criticises Buhari, says president’s statement on National Assembly derogatory

The Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of making derogatory statements about him and the National Assembly.

He was referring to a statement credited to Mr Buhari where he accused the National Assembly of indolence.

Speaking when he received a delegation of Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) at the Presidential Villa on May 22, Mr Buhari came down hard on the members of the National Assembly.

“Let anybody come and confront me publicly in the National Assembly. What have they been doing? Some of them have been there for 10 years. What have they been doing?” he asked.

Mr Melaye described Mr Buhari’s statement as “unpresidential” and “unconstitutional.”

“As a senator who came to the National Assembly in 2007, about eleven years ago, I am particularly unhappy that my privilege is abused by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

“Last week, the president in the Presidential Villa while addressing the delegation of the Buhari Campaign Organisation and this was televised in Channels Television and AIT and I have a copy to tender.

“The president in his address said he doesn’t know what we are doing in the National Assembly. He said that some of us have been in the National Assembly for over 10 years and we have nothing to show for it. This statement is not only unpresidential, but it’s an assault on my person and the institution of the National Assembly where I am proudly a member. Such derogatory statement and insult on the National Assembly should not be allowed to go unnoticed.

“For the president to so speak in low tones about the National Assembly, I begin to ask myself if Donald Trump will address the Senate of United States in like manner,” he said.

The lawmaker said such statement by Mr Buhari is the reason why some government appointees disrespect the National Assembly.