Ministerial Screening: Melaye Asks Keyamo to Recite Second Stanza of National Anthem

The atmosphere at the senate was charged on Friday after Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, asked Festus Keyamo, ministerial nominee from Delta state, to recite the second stanza of the national anthem.

Melaye made the request while asking the nominee questions during the ministerial screening.
The senator had started by describing Keyamo as his good friend, saying “our relationship dates back to years”.

He first sought the views of Keyamo on whether the powers of the attorney-general of the federation cover three interests: public interest, interest of justice and need to prevent abuse of legal process.

Mealye then asked Keyamo to recite the second stanza of the national anthem.

“I just want to say that as a versatile minister, I know you to be intellectually mobile, you recite the second stanza of the national anthem,” he said.

The request was met with a thunderous “no oooo” but Melaye stood his ground even after his microphone was switched off.

Shouting on the top of his voice, the Kogi lawmaker said: “Mr Chairman, screening as it has been described is meant for us to screen the candidates…”
But Senate President Ahmad Lawan overruled Melaye.

“That is not a question. So you have asked about two question. You have asked very serious questions, so you can disregard the other part,” he said.