PIUS ADE BABALEYE (PAB)
It is often said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. One cannot help but wonder where Senator Dino Melaye gets the moral audacity to pontificate on the family values of others when his own record, especially in matters of the home, is murky and elusive.
In a recent statement laced with sarcasm and scorn, Melaye attempted to attack President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s personal life by comparing it to that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He lauded Atiku for maintaining a marriage of over 50 years to Titi Abubakar, as though longevity in marriage automatically implies wholesomeness in character or governance.
While it is true that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has had a long-standing marriage with Titi, it is also a public fact that he has multiple wives and children from different women. That, in itself, is no crime. But why should Melaye hold Atiku up as a saint while vilifying Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for having children from more than one woman? This hypocrisy smells of desperation and selective morality.
More importantly, one must ask Senator Melaye: Where is your own wife? Who is your wife? Can Nigerians point to the woman you have lived with consistently and honorably over the years? What values have you upheld in your own home? It is on record that your own marital history is checkered at best, with stories of estrangement, domestic controversies, and a string of short-lived relationships.
Before casting stones, perhaps the Senator should first look in the mirror. A man who cannot boast of a stable home, who parades himself with flamboyance but offers no depth of character, is not qualified to lecture Nigerians on family stability.
Moreover, leadership is not judged merely by marital arrangements. A man may have one wife and still lack integrity; another may have children from different mothers and yet be a man of honor, responsibility, and vision. President Bola Tinubu’s contribution to Nigeria’s political evolution, governance structure, and mentorship of leaders across the country is far more significant than the number of women he had children with. And unlike the insinuations Melaye tried to sell, these children are not hidden—they are simply not flamboyant or seeking validation through media popularity.
Let us also not forget that Dino Melaye himself has failed to distinguish between leadership discourse and cheap gossip. In a time when Nigeria needs serious conversation about development, security, economy, and the future, Melaye continues to drag public discourse into the mud of personal attacks. This speaks volumes about his priorities—and explains why his political relevance continues to diminish.
In conclusion, Senator Dino Melaye should focus less on Tinubu’s family and more on rebuilding his own credibility. Nigerians are tired of politicians who speak loudly but live loosely.