Oduah And Orubebe Sacked, Now Alison-Madueke Must Go – Melaye

Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) Dino Melaye said the sack of Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Orubebe was the long-needed opening to institute corruption charges against the two

Dino Melaye, others at the protest clamouring for ouster of Aviation Minister Stella Oduah, Oct. 23, 2103. Credit: Anti-Corruption Network

Melaye, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, praised the "courage" of President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the ministers, but said his decision was "delayed too much".

"When we protested against two of these criminals, many abused us. But today, we are happy," he added.

He said that the Minister of Petroleum Resources Deziani Alison-Madueke "must go, too ... "in the interest of Nigerians."

Melaye further said that now when Orubebe and Oduah were sacked, the ACN would institute criminal charges against them. 

"We encourage Nigerians to continue to protest vehemently against mal-administration, ineptitude and corruption. For me it is a no retreat, no surrender. No amount of arrest, intimidation, blackmail or name-calling will detract my attention from fighting all forms of injustices," Melaye said.

Last year Stella Oduah was in the center of a corruption scandal for ordering the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her two bullet-proof BMW cars, worth $1.6m (about N255m).