Ex-Ghanaian president, Jerry Rawlings, who was one of the important persons invited for Senator Dino Melaye’s book launch was absent at the occasion.

Also, the intended keynote speaker for the occasion, Prof. Femi Odekunle, did not attend the Abuja event on Monday, May 15, The Punch reports.

Odekunle, who is also a member of the presidential advisory committee against corruption headed by Prof. Itse Sagay, said he did not attend the book launch because he had “more important things” to do.

Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Odekunle said most of the people who attended the launch were “a congregation of deplorable” people.

He said: “Yes, I was supposed to be the keynote speaker, but because of commitments, I could not be there.

“But from the information I have read, most of the people who were there, the senators and other National Assembly members, in terms of fighting corruption, I will call them a congregation of deplorable.”

Odekunle said every arm of government was fighting corruption except the National Assembly.

He called on the Senate president Bukola Saraki, who is facing corruption charges, to step aside like the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal.

NAIJ.com recalls that some of the attended the occasion included: Bukola Saraki, the senate president, his counterpart at the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bello Mohammed, his labour and productivity counterpart, Dr. Chris Ngige and former secretary to the government of the federation, Dr. Anyim Pius Anyim.

Others are clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Molori, serving and past members of the National Assembly, with Former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings and chairman of Dangote Groups, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, ably represented.

Another top dignitary said to be at the occasion is former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.