It would be recalled that during the last raining season, a certain part of Kogi state was affected by flood, wind and other natural disaster that left many people homeless and properties worth hundreds of millions destroyed. During this trying time a number of spirited individuals and organizations came to assist these victims in their little ways pending when the Federal government’s National emergency management agency would come to their aids as required by the law.
During this period, several government officials and elected representative made calls to the NEMA to immediately assist the people, among such persons is the Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Senator Dino Melaye and member representing Kabba-bunu/Ijumu Federal constituency, Hon Tajudeen Yusuf.
After several months of waiting, facts emerging from the NEMA headquarters confirmed that trailers load of Rice, Mattresses, roofing materials and other house hold equipment worth hundreds of millions were handed over to Senator Dino Melaye at the end of December 2016 for distribution to the victims of the disaster whose livelihood have become very poor as a result of the disaster.
Senator Dino Melaye, according to the reports, received the items for the disaster victims in Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Lokoja and Koto karfe LGAs, but he decided to divert the materials for political gains instead of giving same to the affected victims.
We can reliably confirm that the Senator shared half of these items to his political followers and diverted the rest for his personal gains. We also gathered that part of the items found their way to Benue state with the connivance of one Mr Samuel Melaye, who is Senator Melaye’s immediate younger brother and Senior Legislative Aide. Mr Samuel Melaye, who is said to be married to an Idoma lady, sent part of the relief materials to his inlaws as Christmas gift.
Meanwhile, the Kogi West Peoples Front, a social cultural group of Kogi state has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) to immediately commence a thorough investigation into this grievous allegation as it is considered to be a crime against humanity.
The organization in a press release on the 1st January 2017 described the act as satanic, wicked and height of corruption perpetrated by a lawmaker that is supposed to defend his people.
The spokesman of the group, Alh. Aminu Inuwa Bala decried it as a wicked act of a rich man to impoverish the people.
Alh Inuwa thanked the Federal government through the NEMA for considering the plight of the victims by providing the relief materials but condemned the Senator and called the behaviora daylight robbery against the poor and attempt to sabotage the efforts of the Federal Government.
He called on government to begin immediate investigation and subsequent prosecution of the Senator and the NEMA officials assigned to monitor the distribution who refused to do their job but colluded with the Senator to rob the poor.
Efforts to reach Senator Dino Melaye proved abortive as calls made to his phone was ignored.
