The lawmakers from the all corners of Senate were heard shouting: “Babalawo, Kabiyesi and masquerade,” when Melaye entered into the Upper Chamber last Wednesday for the day’s legislative activities.
The senator, who is neither a presiding nor a principal officer, came into the chamber alongside with the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, and key officers of the Upper Chamber.
The appearance of the Senate president is usually announced with a shout of “Mr. Senate president,” by the sergeant-at-arms, who is the guardian of the chamber’s symbol of authority, the mace.
With the proclamation, all people in the chamber, comprising senators, cameramen, clerk of the Senate and his team, reporters and legislative aides are awaited to stay standing until the Senate president takes his seat.
All the senators were standing when together with Saraki Kogi state senator came in in an unusual dressing.
Melaye was wearing a blue Aso-Oke, with an orange cap knitted with beads, and used white fly-whisks to light his outfit.
On his neck Kogi senator wore four different beads.
His outfit soon became the talk of the chamber as senators, struggling to have presidential handshake with Saraki, were heard chanting Kabiyesi, Babalawo and pretense.
Melaye’s outfit looked like with that of Yoruba chief or priest of Babalawo shrine.
While Saraki was shaking with the lawmakers, Melaye used the fly-whisks he held in his right hand to bless the senators through brushing their back with it.
However, the Senator Peter Nwaboshi (Peoples Democratic Party, Delta North) pointed out that “Melaye was not properly dressed, he dresses like Babalawo.”
According to the Order 56 (13) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015: “Senators shall attend the sitting of the Senate properly dressed.”
In his answer to Nwaboshi comment, Saraki said: “Which part of the dressing are you complaining about? It is noted.”
Kogi senator is one of the loyal associates of Saraki in the Senate. In fact, he seconded the nomination of Saraki as the Senate president when the 8th Senate was controversially sworn-in on June 9, 2015.
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