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KOGI WEST SENATORIAL TUSSLE DINO PRAY, DINO PLEASE PRAY

Published

11 years ago

August 3, 2015

Senator Dino Melaye or Dino as he is popularly called is not someone who is afraid of controversy. He has been in the trenches of controversy since he unceremoniously left the PDP. After he left the PDP he became a thorn in the flesh of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Government and was often at the forefront of one protest or the other.

He gradually carved a name for himself as an activist of sorts with a penchant for rabble rousing and hubris. When the APC decided to launch a final onslaught against the PDP in 2014/2015, Dino was a visible figure at the various rallies and gradually gained some popularity as a mobilizer and loyal Party man. Alas Dino was a wolf in sheeps clothing and was merely acting out an evil and diabolical script to destroy the APC from within.

He eventually clinched the Kogi West Senatorial ticket and was subsequently declared winner of the seat in a keenly contested contest

Once he got the ticket on the platform of the APC, Dino began to mutate into a cartoon character of sorts. Some have in fact speculated that the name Dino cannot be a real name but was borrowed from the cartoon character popularized by the Flintstones television series.

In that popular series Dino was a metaphorical pet dog, and exhibited the characteristics of a typical domesticated canine. . He frequently leapt upon his master Fred Flintstone, yapping happily, and energetically licked his face. Dino could also be moved to anger, at which point he would snarl and snap.

Dino Melaye first began to unravel his plot when he pitched his tent with his master Bukola Saraki who sought to undermine the APC and President Muhammad Buhari’s change agenda. Saraki had co-opted Dino in his unholy plot with the PDP’s leadership to truncate the wishes of the Party. While Saraki played behind the scenes, Dino became his man-Friday/enforcer and openly defied the APC’s directives to support Ahmed Lawan for the Senate Presidency in the 8^TH Senate. Dino, Saraki and other renegade APC Senators eventually forged and unholy alliance with the PDP to elect Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremandu as Senate President and deputy respectively. That black Tuesday became a very sore point for the APC Party leadership but Dino continued to mock the Party claiming that Party supremacy stopped at the door of the Senate building.

He again collaborated with Saraki to disregard the APC’s choices for the Principal officer positions. Dino was “Mr. visible” granting interviews and press conferences to justify Saraki’s position of open defiance of the Party’s wishes.

Around that time the Kogi State Election tribunal dismissed Smart Adeyemi’s petition against Dino’s election on what has now been adjudged to be technical grounds. Dino was ecstatic and felt he was invincible. Smart Adeyemi subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal seeking redress.

Dino was so invigorated by his temporary victory that he even took jabs at the Court of Appeal saying that they were being influenced by Mohammed Adoke, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other faceless third parties to reverse his victory at the Tribunal.

Like a bolt out of the blue the most distinguished Senator Dino Melaye then informed us that he was also a private investigator to the high and mighty including Bukola Saraki’s wife, Toyin Saraki who had been summoned by the EFCC to answer money laundering charges. He said that he accompanied Toyin Saraki to the EFCC’s office in his capacity as her Private investigator. Apparently his genuflection and groveling to Toyin Saraki at the EFCC office was because he was her Private Investigator and not a Senator who was seeking to be compensated by her husband for his defiance of the Party that brought both of them to prominence.

As expected like a good pet, Dino was rewarded by Bukola Saraki with the Chairmanship of the highly visible Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Media & Publicity. Dino had become the new kid on the block and was even reputed to have granted interviews on his stupendous wealth and his political invincibility.

Suddenly the Appeal Court that Dino had earlier rubbished with his unguarded comments struck. Smart Adeyemi’s Appeal was upheld. The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja said that the Tribunal was hasty and did not do a good job in evaluating the evidence that Adeyemi’s petition was late. It further said that the Tribunal was wrong to have dismissed the Appeal on technicalities and that it should be tried on its merits.

Dino’s world that looked so bright and sunny was now looking gloomy and dire. The platform of the APC that he had so derided was now looking shaky and Smart Adeyemi now had another lease of life to throw Dino into the wilderness of defeat.

What is now left for Dino is to Pray. Pray to his God that Smart Adeyemi is not successful at the Tribunal. If Adeyemi is successful who will Dino run to, the APC, the PDP or his master Senator Bukola Saraki? Only time will tell. This may be a time for Dino to retrace his steps and hope for divine mercy.

Pray Dino, Dino please Pray !!!!!!!

Olufemi Ehinlayo wrote from Lagos.

celebrity radar - gossips

Buratai Celebrates Tinubu’s Bold Move: A New Dawn for North East Roads.

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Buratai Celebrates Tinubu’s Bold Move: A New Dawn for North East Roads.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), CFR, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the N1.245 trillion Gombe-Biu dualization project, describing it as one of the most significant infrastructure interventions in Nigeria’s North East since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, Buratai expressed appreciation to the President for reviving the strategic highway, originally constructed in 1962, noting that the project aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving critical infrastructure across the country.

According to the retired army chief, the dualization of the 139-kilometre road will stimulate economic activities, facilitate trade and transportation, and strengthen regional integration among states in the North East.

Buratai also praised the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, as well as the Governors of Gombe and Borno states, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Babagana Umara Zulum, for their collaboration and support toward the actualisation of the project.

He stressed that beyond its economic benefits, the highway would play a strategic role in enhancing national security by serving as a major military logistics corridor.

“The road will significantly improve the movement of troops, deployment of military equipment, and reinforcement of supply chains across the North East, thereby strengthening ongoing counter-insurgency operations and contributing to lasting peace and stability in the region,” he said.

Buratai described the project as a transformative investment capable of unlocking the economic potential of the region while reinforcing the government’s commitment to security, development, and national integration.

He urged residents and stakeholders to support the successful execution of the project, expressing confidence that it would deliver lasting socio-economic and security benefits to the people of the North East and the country at large.

celebrity radar - gossips

Akintunde Ogundare Records Another Feat, Graduates with Distinction from University of Guelph-Humber

Published

3 days ago

June 6, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Akintunde Ogundare Bags Distinction in Canada, Extends Academic Excellence Streak

A Nigerian scholar, Akintunde Ogundare, has once again demonstrated his commitment to academic excellence by graduating with Distinction from the University of Guelph-Humber, Canada, adding another prestigious qualification to an already impressive educational record.

Ogundare earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Community Social Services with Distinction, a feat that underscores years of dedication, resilience and an unwavering pursuit of knowledge.

The convocation ceremony is slated for June 15, 2026, at the Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, Etobicoke, Ontario, where family members, friends and associates are expected to celebrate the milestone.

The latest achievement extends Ogundare’s remarkable streak of academic success across institutions in Nigeria and Canada.
Before obtaining his latest degree, he graduated with Distinction from George Brown College, Canada, where he earned a Diploma in Social Service Work. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Second Class Upper Division from Joseph Ayo Babalola University and a Higher National Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning with Upper Credit from Lagos State Polytechnic.

Beyond his academic accomplishments, Ogundare is also known for his commitment to humanitarian service and community development. He serves as Secretary of the Allmen Progressive Association, where he has played an active role in promoting initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of members and supporting community-based causes. Associates describe him as a selfless leader whose passion for humanity and dedication to service have earned him widespread respect.

Colleagues and admirers have described Ogundare as a lifelong learner whose determination to excel has remained consistent despite the challenges of balancing academic pursuits with personal and professional responsibilities.

His achievements have also been hailed as an inspiration to young Nigerians seeking opportunities for academic and professional advancement, proving that discipline, perseverance and continuous self-development can yield exceptional results.

As he joins the graduating Class of 2026, Ogundare’s story stands as a testament to the value of hard work and the transformative power of education, reinforcing the belief that excellence is built through consistency and dedication.

The latest distinction not only adds another feather to his cap but also cements his reputation as a scholar and community leader committed to lifelong learning, humanitarian service and the advancement of society.

celebrity radar - gossips

The Unfinished Conversation: Five Years of Missing T.B. Joshua BY FEMI OYEWALE

Published

5 days ago

June 4, 2026

Sahara Weekly

The Unfinished Conversation: Five Years of Missing T.B. Joshua BY FEMI OYEWALE

”In life we meet to part, we part to meet, but parting is the sweetest sorrow.”

Five years have vanished like a vapor, yet the echoes of his voice remain as vivid as a morning sunrise. June 5th marks the anniversary of the transition of a man who was not merely a global religious icon, but a father, a mentor, and a beacon of profound simplicity in a complex world. As I pen this, I find myself still navigating the shores of denial. How does one write a tribute to a man whose influence was as vast as the oceans, yet whose heart remained as humble as the desert sands?

The Last Assignment

Time truly flies, but some moments are frozen in the amber of memory. I recall with poignant nostalgia that I was among the final few with whom he spoke before stepping out for his last assignment on the pulpit on June 5,2021. Unknown to many, we shared an uncommon bond—a father-son relationship that stood the test of time.

Just an hour before that glorious, final ministration, my phone rang. We discussed the fulfillment of prophecies and my planned assignment to South Africa, an assignment he promised to single-handedly finance. By God’s grace, I have traveled the globe, and ninety percent of those journeys were bankrolled by him. Before ending the call, he spoke with finality: “Femi, go and watch it.” I never knew it was a parting shot. I never knew those words would be the threshold of eternity. Perhaps that is why, despite being part of his burial media committee, I lacked the courage to write until today.

From Fear to Faith: The Beginning

My journey to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) was written in the stars of fate. Then a reporter for Encomium Weekly, under the tutelage of the legendary Mr. Kunle Bakare, I was recommended to handle media work for a “prominent client.” When the name “T.B. Joshua” was mentioned, my heart sank.

Having cut my journalistic teeth under titans like Mr. Femi Adeshina and Mr. Dele Alake, I had heard the tales, stories of monsters, of shape-shifters, of dark magic. As I drove to Ikotun, I recited every Psalm I could muster and texted my parents my destination, unsure if I would return. I arrived expecting a beast; I was introduced to a brother. I met a man so profoundly simple, so devastatingly ordinary in his humility, that if not for his presence on Emmanuel TV, I would have sworn I was meeting an impostor. That was the day the fear died, and a lifelong relationship began.

The Man Behind the Mantle

I am not here to validate a legend; I am here to honor a human. I have been privileged to stand in his office, his personal room, his private altar, and his prayer house. What did I find? Not a demigod, but a man who lived for others.

A Heart of Forgiveness: Like the father in Luke 15, no matter the depth of the offense, a sincere “I am sorry” was all it took to be welcomed back into his fold.

The Weight of Misunderstanding: I remember the pain of the building collapse. He asked me, with tears that shattered my heart, “Femi, can you believe they said I used these people for rituals?” That was the first time I saw the iron man break.

A Channel of Healing: I recall a man brought to the prayer line who had previously declared, “Even if T.B. Joshua is the devil, if he can take this pain away, I am ready.” The moment those words left his lips, the Prophet walked over, touched him, and the healing was instantaneous.

He was a comedian, a teacher, a preacher, and above all, a man who loved his family and his ministry with every fiber of his being. If most clergy possessed even half the global influence he wielded, they would have long ago become arrogant demigods. T.B. Joshua remained, to his last breath, a servant.

A Legacy Enduring

It has been five years, yet it feels like yesterday. Many of those who cast stones in the shadows often came seeking his light in secret. Today, as we remember him, I see that legacy thriving. Prophetess Evelyn Joshua is truly holding the torch, preserving the foundation with grace and strength.

Good morning, Prophet T.B. Joshua. You live on in the lives you changed, the doors you opened, and the heart of your many disciples who will never forget the man who taught them that true greatness is found in the simplicity of love.

”He was a man globally misunderstood, yet a man whose name alone opened doors globally. He lived for others, and in doing so, he became immortal.”