It should be noted that I have nothing against Senator Dino Melaye. As a matter of fact, I have never failed to air my view during his wittily theatrical shows with either Governor Yahaya Bello, Buhari’s government or the police. But there are times when entente can’t play the lead role, especially if it relates to the general welfare. Moreover, I often hypothesize, the race is neither to succeed Yahaya Bello nor for politicos. It’s not about the payment of salaries which this government failed to. It’s about an innovative and proficient pathfinder through which Kogi in all corollaries can be revitalized.
By mere view, the activist cum politician retains the needed charisma considering his proactivity birthed in his vigorous and vociferous nature. In short, to passersby, Dino Melaye fits in all sensitive positions, and we have seen such bystanders advocating him for president. Even his Kogi cliques ignited by non-Kogites of the passersby’s extraction believe Kogi will be a paradise under his watch.
Well, to a keen observer, there is more to what is currently on the foray about Senator Dino Melaye. Come with me as I x-ray them.
SENATOR DINO MELAYE VS GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO.
Do you really have an idea about these two personalities from Okun and Egbira extraction? In case you don’t, there were close allies to certain points. In fact, the persuasive roles played by Senator Dino Melaye among his former party stakeholders (APC) which ultimately brought Bello to limelight is still fresh in the memory. I have not forgotten he preceded the transition committee and doubled as MC during Bello’s coronation ceremony. Now, let me take your mind to some of his prominent quotes during the ceremony in 2016. “Audu was ordained by the people but Yahaya Bello was ordained by God” “A fight against Bello is a fight against God”.
Going by the above, Dino has not only made mockery of his godfather, (Late Prince Abubakar Audu), he was too extravagant with the genial affiliation with Yahaya Bello (don’t get it twisted). However, going by the statement above, one will ordinarily presume Senator Dino will be part and parcel of the current Kogi government if not dictating who gets what.
So, the question now is, how did the duo part too sudden? Could it be the personal interest which of course characterizes the system or Bello’s lackadaisical attitudes toward governance which he (Dino) claimed to have quizzed severally? To some (the passersby), it’s the latter, but to the sane minds, it’s the former.
Check this, Hon. Taofik Isah, (aka Jagaban), Ijumu LG administrator, was against Dino’s Senatorial bid in 2015, but he was a driving force to Yahaya Bello’s campaign ship at Kogi west. From my findings, when the odds favored Yahaya Bello and he was given the mantle of leadership, he dusted his book of record and decided to repay his loyalists which of course earned Hon. Taofik the office he occupies but contrary to Dino’s proclivity. Save for the contrasting agenda of the governor, I would have berated Dino for his stance on whom Bello deemed fit to run the affair with. However, even though the governor has claimed severally that Dino was asking for his shares in the patrimony of the state, and Dino Melaye, on the other hand, claimed to be protecting the overwhelming interest of the citizen, the ensuing fracas between the duo was more of a battle of supremacy- who should control the affairs.
Now, in what could be best described as reprisal and monkeyshines, Dino claimed an assassination attempt was carried against his life sometimes in April 2017- a situation he leveraged to indict both the governor, Edward Onoja, Taofik Isah and many others deliberately. Of course, a phone conversation between the senator and Mohammed Audu (late prince Audu’s son) where he claimed to have indicted them was published on Sahara reporter in June same year.
Analytically, the assassination attempt was quite condemnable but Senator Dino was excessive in his framing allegation. Thank God, the Police and even the judiciary was quite prudent. But contrary to what Kogites saw as an avenue to applaud the lawmaker, Governor Yahaya Bello made an earlier remorseful move and a reconciliation attempt which Dino rebuffed.
Few days after the framing up of his perceived political foes, Bello led a group of elders from Kogi state to Abuja to plead with Dino and reconcile their differences, the senator was duly informed by the elders of their intention. As a matter of fact, they had to camp three days ahead in order to secure Melaye’s audience which he concurred to grant, but on the eve of their meeting, Dino jetted out of the country.
I am not in any way a supporter of Governor Yahaya Bello and will never be, but the bitter truth must be told. For a lawmaker posing with the interest of his people at heart, isn’t this move by the governor enough to shed their differences in the interest of the state? Why did Dino rebuff despite the fact that the elders had to leave their comforts to meet him in Abuja? Of course, the answer is not farfetched; personal interest. Dino was hell-bent on clamping down his political enemies thereby trading a unity of purpose sin qua non to the development of the state.
The above is just the tip of iceberg. We saw several rancorous Shina Rambo, and even the inversion of the movie through senator Melaye in the entire affairs, what about the alleged kidnap which he claimed to have slept on the tree for days?
For those who think he is instrumental, your presumption may be right but only when you have an overview of the senator’s political characterization with regard to Kogi state he is currently on the edge to rescue.
SENATOR DINO MELAYE VS KOGI STATE.
This is self-explained. The feud between Senator Dino Melaye, the governor and his chief of staff will be intensified per-adventure he succeeds the current government. Bello and Edward know. In short, political witch-hunting will be deepened in the process. Consequently, we may end up having a government leveraging on blame game to justify incompetence. It’s neither rhetoric nor sarcastic, Kogi will be on dailies’ front page for a different story.
Initially, we hoped Senator Dino Melaye will tow the sacred path of leading a peaceful movement to oust Yahaya Bello, but I never knew he was eyeing the number one position. However, two things must have instigated his upshot moves- his desperate quest to prevail on his friend cum political rival and his hatred for Igalas political style discrepantly labeled as ethnicity.
Sources close to Dino Melaye confided that the lawmaker has lamented on every occasion that ethnicity define Igalas’ political ideology. His statement during Bello’s ordination in 2016 was also typical of the fact. It was also reported that INEC got a hand to hand information of Audu’s demise before the official declaration which was initiated by the unknown. Now to every clear head, the question will be, what prompted Dino’s quick action, transcending from preceding the transition process to anchoring the ceremony especially that the late prince of Niger was his political godfather who actually championed his emergence at the senate chamber? The answer is hanging in the sky. But in case you feel Dino’s proactivity was birthed out of the fact that power had been shifted from the gripping dominance of the majority, you may not be too far from the track. Hence, it’s rational to conclude that Dino’s government would reinvigorate ANEBIRA agenda and not any transformation agenda. Just as I earlier said, it would be blame game in connivance with full vituperation.
Check out his campaign mantra, Dino has no concrete prospect order than a new Kogi state. And I have constantly asked myself what is this new Kogi that he talks about? Till this moment, I am yet to ascertain the answer. Consequently, for a politician like Dino Melaye who skilled in turning every odds in their favor, such perusal phrase should raise apprehension. I have not forgotten that somehow, he also manage to complete that sentence ‘new Kogi’ with ousting Yahaya Bello, but the truth is that, if Bello is ousted, what more? And in our quests for MORE calls for certainty of the boat sailing us through the turbulent sea which is why I deemed fit that we don’t need Senator Dino Melaye in this race.
I am not an advocate of a semblance of ethnicity, otherwise, it is also clear that Dino’s reign will put the majority at the mercy of the minority. Kogites should beware. May God see us through.
– John Paul
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