Buhari sends personal condolence letter to Dino Melaye over the loss of his mother

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has sent a personal condolence letter to the controversial  lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District Senator Dino Melaye over the recent loss of his mother.

Senator Melaye, 45, is one of the most flambouyant characters in Nigerian politics, who decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last year and joined the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In the last general elections that held in February, Senator Melaye was returned as a senator despite numerous controversies surrounding him, including police probes.

A fierce critic of Kogi State's Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Melaye has long led the opposition to his government, which owes civil servants about 36 months wages. Earlier this year, Senator Melaye announced that he would seek the PDP ticket to run for governor when Kogians go to the polls on November 16.

Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding the senator and his spats with the APC, President Buhari personally signed a condolence letter and sent it to him. Senator Melaye's mother Deaconess Comfort Melaye passed away in May.

President Buhari said: “On behalf of my family, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to commiserate with you and the entire members of Melaye family on the passing of your mother, Deaconess Comfort Melaye (JP). The loss of a mother is usually very painful.

"However, I encourage you to be inspired by her dedication to the service of God and humanity which I believe saw her to the leadership position of a Deaconess. Caring and supportive mothers like mama are precious even more than gold and I know she was very dear to Melaye family and you in particular but please take heart in the fact that she lived a fulfilled life.

“As you prepare for her rites of passage, I urged you and other members of the family to find inspiration and solace in the richly fulfilled life she lived. I pray that you all have the strength to bear her loss.”

At the moment, Senator Melaye is being prosecuted by the police for allegedly aiding violence in Kogi and for attempting to commit suicide while being taken to Kogi State from Abuja by the police. Never out of the news, he reported jumped out of a police van while it was travelling and had to be hospitalised after sustaining injuries.