He who laugh last, they say laughs best. Political ruptures between the senator of the federal republic, Sen. Dino Melaye and the executive governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello is no doubt on a new row. With the duo both hiding under individual political flaws to vent anger against the other.
Recalled vividly that, senator Dino Melaye who presided the transition committee that saw through a successful handing over to the governor also mastered the inauguration ceremony. Till this minute, SDM is remembered for the hilarious comment at the inauguration- “the late prince Abubakar Audu was elected by the people but Yahaya Adoza Bello was elected by God”, “a fight against Bello is a fight against God”. But each time I ponder on this hysterical statement of my distinguished senator, in cognizance with the present rifts, I will stop at nothing to say that interest is the only prevailing factor in Nigeria’s political settings.
Although, the nitty-gritty of what transpired was not publicized, I could still point out that the governor and his chief of staff, alongside a well-known LG administrator from Ijumu, the senator’s ancestral home were vigorous in reducing the most respected Lawmaker to a mere toy. The futile recall process instigated against him by his constituents, the unending legal tussle and frequent police case, the destruction of his constituency project and the various assassination attempts were, and are said to be the resultant effect of their actions.
Still on the fruitless exercise, the governor pitched Smart Adeyemi for Kogi west senatorial post, and just like Alhaji Jibril Isah Echocho (Kogi East senator elect), his campaign was virtually funded by the state government. Few days to the presidential/NASS election, Dino Melaye was still in the police custody. But like the famous Biblical saying; If God be for you, no one can be against you, the senator’s achievement electioneered his reelection, and when he was bailed from the police custody, his mandate was returned to him.
Today, Kogi west is the only constituency one can mention a semblance of credible election in the just concluded elections in Kogi, others were flawed by mandate rubbers. However, the senator’s victory is not farfetched; he previously matched his words with action and the people were wise enough to distinguish between who is for them and who is against them.
Look at the governor’s imprudence, the failed recall process should have set the standard for his ensuing actions. Save for the scythed brains he called adviser and chief of staff; he should have understood that a fight against Dino is a fight against God as the former attributed to him during his inauguration in 2016. He should have discerned that he was fighting the wind with workers’ salary. Both were given the opportunity to serve the people, the governor obliviously misused his thinking Kogi westerners are fools.
You see, the saying is apposite here, those who live in a glass house should not throw stone. Look at how accuser’s fingers are positioned against the accused while one of the five fingers is been pointed at the accused, three out of four are pointing back at the accuser, and one is been pointed to heaven where the Almighty God dwells. This portend the law of karma and the sanctity of truth. Yahaya Bello ignored the business of governance to fight Dino to the detriment of counsel from various quarters including the Nigeria senate. He was persistent against all odds.
Anyway, one thing I will not refute is that Dino Melaye had tough times battling Bello’s political collusions. But at last, the game is up for Bello as the hunter has finally become the hunted.
If the prevailing rumor is worth noting, Bello is on the run. As a matter of fact, he is far from reaching the return ticket as executive governor of the state. Let’s than a month ago, he was spotted prostrating before the Jagaban of Lagos. He was also sighted in Aso rock begging his father the president for the ticket. These politicking reportedly cost the confluence city and its activities an over two existential weeks without their governor.
Aside this, there is a lingering feud between himself and Adams Oshiomole (APC National chairman). Both were at loggerhead over his emergence as APC National chairman.
Right now, the National executive of the party are kicking vehemently against his second term bid, the Nigeria senate, especially those who made a fruitless intervention during the recall shenanigans are taking a grand stand against his second term aspiration, Nigerian youths are already saying he is a disaster to the youthhoods, and Kogites, the direct bearer of Bello’s political brunt have vowed to use every means possible to remove him from office. Therefore, in this contest, Bello has the Nigerians, APC and Kogites to combat, and not Sen. Dino Melaye anymore. As things stands, more than 10 petitions had been submitted to the APC chairman’s office by individuals, groups and even members of his government against his reelection bid, more are still coming.
Now the ultimate question is, will Yahaya Bello overcome this just like Dino Melaye? I think the various discrepancies in his government could tell better. For instance, the governor was said to have spent a whooping sum of N260 million as security vote yet, the current security upheaval is inestimable. He was also said to have received over N344 billion both as state allocation, bail out funds, IGR and loans yet, workers in Kogi state are being owed up to 18-month salaries with no tangible infrastructures. The health sector has deteriorated, Education is a crying shame under his watch. In fact, his government recorded the highest number of mortalities among workers due to improper medical care and lack of fund for health maintenance. It was said that in 2018 alone, over 20 civil servants with vast health predicament died because there was no money for their routine medication. I will not forget those who opted for suicide mission and those who became beggars overnight. In fact, nothing is working in Kogi state at the moment.
The governor’s ostentatious lifestyle is extraordinary. He has the highest number of aides, moves in exotic cars, has masquerades on his payroll alongside some political jobbers. He is dictatorial in nature; the acclaimed percentage of salary or table payments are given to selected civil servants. It was also rumored that he hid under a socio-political group to purchase Buhari’s nomination form on his behalf. He at a time doled out brand new Toyota Venzas (worth N90 million each) alongside cash prizes to six Equenchi masquerades he own and spearheads even before he became the state governor. Contracts were awarded, monies been paid, and contract not executed. At a time, a loan was approved to the tune of N4 billion for the establishment of rice meals by the state house of assembly. Few months later, FG enlisted Kogi among the states it will establish rice meal, and until this moment, it was not clear whether the ongoing rice meal plants is been funded with the loan or Bello simply leverage on the available information to impose more debt on the confluence state.
His latest mansion located in GRA Okene remains a questionable achievement in the lip of everyone. How he took state allocations to sponsor cronies on the lesser Hajji to Dubai after servicing external debts to access bank remains a baffling scenario to everyone.
In fact, the governor’s (in)actions had earned Kogi state Nigeria’s hunger/poverty capital. Workers are living like IDPs, primary schools are not in existence for over two years because of the absence of teachers to teach. The primary health-cares are a structure of mockery and a crying shame. Yet, the governor moves about freely with constant deceits that salaries are being paid.
As part of the moves to secure the return ticket, the chief of staff recently play host to Oshomole’s first son. The governor himself has also dispatched one of the top government appointees to the palace of Oba of Benin to help influence Oshiomole’s decision. Notwithstanding, the governor has allegedly confessed to his close aides that the president and all those he has helped to lift their political careers had betrayed him, and that APC may not be relied upon for the return ticket. The aggrieved aides on the other hand advised His excellency to test his popularity on another party bearing in mind the existing structures.
Now, a clear-headed mind may still want to ask; is Bello that popular to win election on another party? In a society where integrity is the hallmark of every political activities, won’t a political party degenerate itself by allowing the governor to use their platform considering his numerous sins? What if he is finally kicked out, will he be moving about freely like other corrupt governors or end up in jail? I swear only time shall tell.
But in my candid opinion, Bello should honorably accept his flaws, apologies to the people and return to Okene. This will earn him further listening ears, the forces throwing arrow against him are united much more than he seems cognizance of. In fact, its no longer my distinguished senator Dino Melaye. If only his handlers can heed to my suggestion, the governor’s political life will be extended beyond November 2. Be that as it may, I have stocked my little bar with assorted wines, I am also saving money to replace my TV with new one so as to be able to watch clearly as event unfolds.
God bless Kogi state,
– John Paul
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