Bello vs Melaye: We need peace in Kogi —Ex-Reps member

FORMER House of Representatives member, representing Yagba Constituency, Honourable Aro Bamidele Samuel, has called for truce in the simmering political crisis rocking Kogi State.

The former House of Representatives member told newsmen that political gladiators in Kogi State need to create an enabling environment for peace and development.

He told newsmen in Abuja that the feud among the political actors in the state could not help development.

He said: “Close to two years after election had been held and government sworn into office, we are still carrying on as if we are politicking at the expense of development of our state and her people.

“Governor Yahaya Bello cannot afford to follow the leads of politicians because at the end of it all the people have their expectations of his administration.

“The governor should put his energy into areas where the peoples’ expectations would be met.”

He added that stakeholders in the state needed to intervene in the crisis, adding that Governor Bello must ignore what he called the gimmick of politicians and concentrate his efforts on developing the state.

He also urged the governor to be wary of politicians who he said want to profit from the crisis that has pervaded the state.

The former lawmaker further said: “Anybody claiming to have come out to provide help for Governor Bello today does not need to expand the frontiers of the crises we already have in Kogi State.

“The people we need now are genuine peacemakers that will douse the tension and create an atmosphere that will engender good governance in the interest of the people.

“This is not a time for mercenaries whose agenda is to stoke the fire of disagreement between members of the same political family with the hope of a heroic advantage.

“Intra-party crises have always been a part of the dynamics of party politics. It is, however, strange that members of the same party have constituted themselves into a viable opposition against the government formed by their own party and this trend will negatively impact on good governance.”