- We’ll not join issue with him, replies govt
The Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye has expressed shock over the assassination attempt.
He described the situation as highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political culture of the people of Kogi West.
This was contained in a press statement he issued on Tuesday, a copy was made available in Lokoja.
He declared that no matter what, he will continue to champion democratic courses targeted at good governance, masses empowerment and the rule of law.
“No amount of threat, blackmail or harassment will stop me from being the voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of the common man,” he said.
He also expressed outrage and disbelief that four days after the attempt on his life, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has not deemed it for to visit to know the state of affairs with him as a serving senator from the state.
“The governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes. In the history of Kogi West, various political gladiators have at various times had their differences, but none had ever been escalated to the level of differences, but none had ever been escalated to the level of differences but none had ever been escalated to the level of the attempt on life.
“Chief Awoniyi and Chief Daniyan (both of blessed memory) had their strong differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Prince Olusola Akanmode also had their differences.
“Arc. Stephen Olorunfemi and Prince Olusola Akanmode and Tunde Ogbeha, also had their differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Smart Adeyemi had their serious political differences, none of these differences was ever escalated to the horrendous level of an the assassination attempt
“The recent incident is alien to Okun people and to Kogi West. The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as a local government administrator in the political firmament of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” he lamented.
Melaye, therefore, called on Kogi elders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to call for order and restraint, even as he promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.on Kogi elders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders to call for order and restraint, even as he promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.
He added: “It may be Dino Melaye today, we don’t know who is next. The agitation for good governance, payment of worker’s salaries and welfare of pensioners should not be punished with assassination”.
The state governor has, however, said that he will not want to join issues with Senator Melaye.
The governor who spoke through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, in a reaction, said Senator Dino Melaye ad an adult was in the best position to explain the path he has chosen to tread.
He said, “If he accused me of complacency in the so-called assassination attempt, those who have been following the trend from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.
“The case is under investigation by the police, and making serious statements about it may be seen to be subjudice. We have been witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and when I travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged I was attacked, even when the opposite was the case.
“As a government, we believe the Nigeria Police is capable of getting to the root of the allegations and do justice to it once and for all.
“I’m redefining leadership in Kogi State, therefore, the plan of, one day one trouble, will not work. We are in the news for the roads we are constructing, the agriculture we are reforming, the healthcare we are making affordable and the walls of insecurity we are pulling down. We have departed from their own ways.
“You people need to ask Senator Dino Melaye if he reported the incident to the governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state. If you didn’t tell him anything, he too will have nothing to say. The reports of the security agencies will surely untie the riddles surrounding the allegations.
“Security should never be politicised in our state. We will not be distracted. We know the plans, but if they know Governor Yahaya Bello, they would know he is too focused to be distracted, too courageous to be intimidated.
“We are waiting for the reports of the investigation after which we shall be properly guided to make informed comments. Nigerians know what is happening”.
