Budget Presentation: “I Did Not Boo Buhari” – Dino Melaye

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West district in the National Assembly, has said he did not boo President Muhammadu Buhari during his budget presentation.

On December 19, 2018, Buhari was booed by a section of the joint session of the National Assembly as he gave the speech that was expected to culminate in the presentation of the 2019 appropriation bill.

Buhari entered the National Assembly and immediately set about the business of the day. However, he was soon shouted down with screams of “nooooo”, “nooooo”, “lieessss” when he started talking about the strides of his administration.

A press statement signed by Dino’s media adviser, Gideon Ayodele, in Abuja on Saturday, debunked the claim that Melaye was one of the lawmakers who booed the president.

The statement read: “The attention of Senator Dino Melaye has been drawn to a malicious reference to his person on the social media as one of the lawmakers who booed President Muhammadu Buhari during his 2019 budget presentation before a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

“Before now, he had refused to refute the mischievous social media fabrication for what it is — a cheap lie. Senator Dino Melaye was not in the National Assembly that day.

For the avoidance of doubt, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye was absent at the televised 2019 budget presentation session and hereby challenges anyone with contrary proof to come forward with such.”

Dino was taken into custody on Friday following an eight-day siege at his Abuja home by the police. Dino had evaded arrest and approached the court for an injunction to prevent the police from arresting him.

He is to be charged with culpable homicide involving the shooting of a police officer, allegations Dino has denied.