We live in a world full of complexities with diverging perceptions perhaps because humans are rational beings however wielding a stereotypical mindset concerning the deeds and misdeeds of any character or personality is narrowed down to the identity of the individual or group equating the ratings because one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
The foregoing lines should set a pace for readers of this discourse to understand the unbiased fact that Senator Dino Melaye is viewed in different circles of public opinion according to the gullibility strength of his fans and the sympathetic delve of his cliques who prior to this time have refused to advise him maybe because they all await an ample time like this to mock an unrepentant crony, revered for crossing red lines but obviously a chicken hearted fellow especially when the heat of his lazily managed oven is done baking the bread of his many juvenile schemes.
It is shaming to witness a lawmaker breaking the law with such ease and impunity yet his fellow legislators and fans cannot call him to order or provide a timely advise to avert this day of reckoning; it is comic for a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to vehemently refuse to honour police invitation on the ground that his state of origin is no longer safe for him to visit.
Lest I forget, I have a comrade who after suffering detention has consistently traveled to same confluence state Dino ignorantly refused to cooperate with the law agents, to honor and answer charges leveled against him.
Is a comrade more powerful than a sitting senator? To posit the least, Dino Melaye is the originator of the now popular parlance: “if you say the truth you, you will die, if you don’t say the truth, you will die, so it is better I say the truth and die”.
These are indeed the powerful words of a true ‘aluta commander’ hence it is absolutely shaming for such personality to runaway from justice after brainwashing the gullible minded that he is ready to say the truth and die!
Take it or leave it, Senator Dino Melaye attracted so many undue afflictions upon himself and it is necessary the truth be told without any yearnings of sentiments or political switch perhaps for those who have bestowed on him the incredulous title of a hero to learn from his mistakes instead of celebrating his reputed misbehavior across boundaries.
Recall that Dino Melaye once derailed and embraced obscene remarks when he childishly goofed during a face-off with the wife of Jagaban, Senator Remi Tinubu. He referred to the former as a dog! Haba!! The fact is, while most of his fans have forgotten the wild drama and careless obsession of a supposed law maker now a law breaker, Baba Tinubu cannot forget such gesture meted to his wife and this may be the payback time.
No doubts, in politics, there is no permanent friend nor permanent enemy but there is certainly a permanent stain that if caution is not adhered can rubbish the political image of any individual beyond repair.
This is not the first time the most popular Senator in Nigeria – Dino Melaye – is displaying an aberrant behavior by feigning ill-health during trials. Recall that he once jumped out of a moving vehicle enroute Lokoja, the capital of his state of origin. It is also amusing that Senator Dino Melaye is so much scared of his own home state owing to the fact that his very good friend and brother, Governor Yahaya Bello is in charge of affairs.
The embattled Senator once declared at the takeoff stage of the incumbent leadership of Kogi state that “Kogites voted for Prince Abubakar Audu but God voted for Alhaji Yahaya Bello and anybody fighting Bello is fighting God” but not long after the unceremoniously foul-mouthed verdict, Melaye started fighting “God” immediately the secret agenda between the duo turned sour. Today many Kogites are still suffering from the evil political romance schemed by these once upon a time friends yet those who are counting their dirty teeth with their foul tongues are quick to bestow on Senator Dino Melaye the revered title of a freedom fighter arising from his plight and present predicament.
Who is a freedom fighter? Nelson Mandela or Nnamdi Azikiwe never ran away from being arrested because they anchored their agitations on the margins of realism and it was purely issues based.
Now, can you compare their craves to that of Senator Dino Melaye who is renowned for his endless hullabaloo yet he is quick to take cover whenever his attention is needed by the law enforcement agents?
Who is fooling who? If your hands are clean and your agitations are refined there is no need resisting arrest.
Similarly, Nigeria is indeed practicing democracy at its nascent stage. Freedom of speech is guaranteed, however it should not be abused. It is no longer news that Dino Melaye opted to cast poorly managed aspersions on the highest seat of authority in Nigeria without remorse however with fear of arrest. How can a man who is not ready for battle fire the first shot and refused to surrender yet he will soon be intercepted by his captives like a rabbit smoked out of its hole? Come to think of it, why is Dino Melaye afraid of arrest if at all his games are genuine?
At the end of it all, Dino Melaye would win back his seat either in or out of detention to represent the good people of Kogi West in the hallowed chambers but “wisdom is profitable” according to one of the religious books therefore he should not continue showcasing same unruly behaviour by garnering a popular image garnished with unpopular attitude. It is tactical to escape arrest because “he who runs from the battlefield live to fight another day” but it is an act of cowardice not to be battle ready before storming the battlefield.
To this end, his bulk of sympathisers should take him to a psychiatric specialist for an immediate medical overhaul once he confess to be fit because just like the anticipated judgement day, he is now on a solo ride to legitimate or illegitimate confinement and it is now a situation of every mallam to his kettle. The best his fans can do at the moment is to clamour for his release without any stentorian effect because he is reputed for crossing the red lines. No wise man is celebrated for fighting against superior authorities because when the wrath of the Sheriff is attracted, the tables will definitely turn against the gambler.
On the whole, it is not proper to disguise under the weakening ideology of political party affiliation to support the egocentric over indulgence of an unrepentant politician. Dino Melaye urgently need to hear and learn the truth because only the truth shall set him free.
May God give us the grace to learn how to choose and fight our battles without regrets.
– Ajogwu Jerry Ochada
