The crisis generated by the assassination on the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye has caused him to attack the
The crisis generated by the assassination on the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye has caused him to attack the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on his continued silence over the incident. Melaye, who expressed shock over the alleged assassination attempt on his life at his 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 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-calling 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. 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 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.
“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. 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, the governor said.”
Meanwhile, the administrator of Ijumu Local Governmental Area of Kogi State Taofiq Isa, has been formally arrested by the Kogi State Police Command in connection with the assassination attempt last on him. Isa was arrested on Wednesday by the Police Special Squad deployed from the Force Headquarters, Abuja. He was arrested at about 1:30pm on the premises of the Ministry of Education, Lokoja, where he had gone to visit the Commissioner for Education, Sunday Tolorunleke.
The administrator had earlier been invited following Melaye’s insistence that the administrator could be culpable in the alleged attempt on his life. The directive to arrest him was from the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris who considers the allegation of attempted murder as a very serious issue and thus ordered the command to do everything possible to investigate the case.
