Assassination attempt: Melaye attacks Bello over silence

The crisis generated by the assassination on the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye, continued on Tuesday as the lawmaker attacked the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over his continued silence over the incident.

Melaye, who expressed shock over the alleged assassination attempt on his life last in his constituency residence in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area, said such development was strange to the senatorial district.

He said it was strange that the four days after the incident, the governor never deemed it fit to call or visit him.

The senator in a statement signed by his media assistant, Gideon Ayodele, described the situation as unfortunate, regrettable, highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political culture of Kogi West senatorial district.

Expressing outrage and disbelief he said, “four days after the assassination attempt, the Kogi State governor, the Chief Security Officer of the State, has neither called nor visited to know the state of affairs with him as a serving Senator from Kogi State.”

“The Governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes”.

Melaye however declared his un-relented resolution to continue to champion democratic courses targeted at good governance, masses empowerment and the Rule of Law.

He promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.

He said, “No amount of threat, blackmail, name-callng and/or harassment will stop me from being the voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of the common man.

“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 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 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 Local Government administrator in the political firmament of Kogi state has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift.

The agitation for good governance, payment of worker’s salaries and welfare of pensioners should not be punished with assassination.

But Bello in his reaction said he was not ready to join issues with Melaye, saying he is an adult that could explain the path he has chosen to tread.

The governor, who spoke through his director of media and publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said followers of events from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.

He said, “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 the Governor travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged he 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.”

“Governor Yahaya Bello is 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.”

“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.”