Assassination attempt: Dino accuses Bello, says ‘governor’s silence speaks volumes’

Lokoja – Senator Dino Melaye has accused
governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State for
keeping silence over the assassination attempt
on his life which occurred on Easter eve, said
the ‘governor’s silence speaks volumes’.
Senator Dino Melelaye, showing Deputy
Commissioner of police and Area Commander
Kabba gun shots on his Caravan
The senator also said he’s still in shock that
the state, especially Kogi West senatorial
district could go low in its politics of bitterness
to the extend of assassination; said the
development is the first time in the history of
the district.
However, the state governor, Yahaya Bello has
said he will not join issue with the senator,
urged him to wait for police to do their job.
Dino who expressed shock in a statement by
his Special Adviser on Media, Gideon Ayodele
described the situation as unfortunate,
regretable, highly disturbing and very strange
to the socio-political culture of Kogi West
senatorial district.
The Senator however thanked the Almighty
God for sparing his life as he declares that
God is his “Rock and Salvation”.
“Senator Dino Melaye declared his unrelented
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.
“No amount of threat, blackmail, name-calling
and harassment will stop him from being the
voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of
the common man”.
“It is outrageous and high sense of disbelief
that four days after the attempt on his life, 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”.
Dino who said long in the history of Kogi West,
various political gladiators have at various
times, had their differences but said none had
ever been escalated to the level of attempt on
life, “Chief Awoniyi and Chief Daniyan (both of
blessed memory) had their strong differences.
Senator Dino Melaye and Prince Olusola
Akanmode also had their differences. Arc.
Stephen Olorunfemi and Prince Olusola
Akanmode and Tunde Ogbeha, also had their
differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Senator
Smart Adeyemi had their serious political
differences. None of these differences was
ever escalated to the horrendous level of
assassination attempt.
“The recent incident is alien to Okun people
and to Kogi West. The advent of Yahaya Bello
as Governor and Taofiq Isa as Local
Government administrator in the political
firmament of Kogi state has brought this
unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift.”
He therefore called on Kogi Elders, Traditional
Leaders and Opinion Leaders to call for order
and restraint said, “It may be Dino Melaye
today, we don’t know who is next. The
aggitation for good governance, payment of
worker’s salaries and welfare of pensioners
should not be punished with assassination.”
But Bello in his reaction through his Special
Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kingsley
Fanwo said they won’t join issue with the
Senator, said Dino is being hunted by his past,
“We do not want to join issues with Senator
Dino Melaye. He is an adult and can explain
the path he has chosen to tread. If he
accused the Governor of complacency in the
so called assassination attempt, those who
have been following the trend from the day his
group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will
not be surprised.
“The case is under investigation by the Police
and making serious statements about it may
be seen to be subjudice. We have been
witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and
when the Governor travelled to Kogi East, his
antagonists also alleged he was attacked even
when the opposite was the case.
“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. Governor Yahaya Bello is redefining
leadership in Kogi State, therefore, the plan of
“One Day One Trouble” will not work.
“We are in the news for the roads we are
constructing, the agriculture we are reforming,
the healthcare we are making affordable and
the walls of insecurity we are pulling down.
We have departed from their own ways.”
“The governor also said Dino has not call him
in person to report the assassination attempt
on his life to him, “You 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.
“Security should never be politicised in our
state. We will not be distracted. We know the
plans but if they know Governor Yahaya Bello,
they would know he is too focused to be
distracted, too courageous to be intimidated.
We are waiting for the reports of the
investigation after which we shall be properly
guided to make informed comments. Nigerians
know what is happening.”