In Kogi state, The Drama Still continues

The lingering face-off between the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and Senator Dino Melaye assumed another condescending twist during this year’s Kabba Day celebration, writes Yekini Jimoh.

The political tussle between the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye resurfaced recently during this year’s Kabba Day celebration, which took place at Kabba township stadium. The annual festival was organised by the Kabba Development Association to celebrate the people of Kabba and also to raise funds for the union.

It is an annual event that brought home the who-is-who in the state, including those in the diaspora. The event usually unites the people of the ‘Owes’. From politicians, doctors, businessmen and women, market women and students – they all see the event as the only thing that brings joy and happiness to the community.

Thus, this year’s event was quite colourful as the people trooped out in their thousands to witness the occasion.
Among the prominent indigenes invited to the event included the paramount ruler of Ife, the Oni Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Governor Bello and Senator Melaye; a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf and Hon. James Faleke; the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Yomi Matthew Kolawole and other national and state assembly members and traditional rulers, among other dignitaries.

Different traditional dancers also partook of the event with colour, donning the venue that was filled to the capacity.
Melaye arrived at the venue at about 1pm with hundreds of his supporters dancing to the traditional music provided by the locals. But before the event proper, Thisday reliably gathered that some traditional rulers from his area had visited the Senator and told him not to come for the event.

According to the Speaker, Kolawole, if Senator Dino Melaye had listened to the advice of the elders by not attending, there would not have been any reason for thugs to capitalise on his presence to unleash terror on the field.

“Senator Dino Melaye attended the Kabba Day last Saturday against the advice of the traditional rulers and Okun Elders Council,” he lamented.

According to a source close to the traditional rulers, Dino was advised to avoid anything that would bring problem as the governor was expected to grace the occasion. Dino was also asked to advise his supporters to stay away from trouble.

At the end of the meeting, Dino promised not to do anything that would disrupt the occasion, reminding them he was a sitting senator. However, from the meeting, he proceeded to the venue, where he was welcomed by his supporters.

Thisday learnt that after his arrival at the venue, some hours later, some of the organisers approached and informed the Senator that the governor was already in Kabba but lodged at one of the hotels in the town.

According to the sources, the governor categorically told the organising committee that he would only come to the venue if the Senator was not there.

After this was brought to his notice, he allegedly promised to listen to them. But minutes later, he was called to the podium to present his speech and donation, which he did and at the end of his speech he donated N3million naira and left.

As he was approaching his Bullet proof Mercedez sport utility vehicle, to make way for the arrival of the governor, some thugs from nowhere attacked him with objects such as stone, sachet water and other dangerous objects.

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