Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has finally reacted after Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye called him out saying he has not heard anything from the Governor since armed men tried to assassinate him at his country home.
According to the Governor, he said the lawmaker didn't inform him about the assassination attempt as he was not aware of it.
Melaye had expressed shock that after gunmen had on Saturday night made an attempt on Melaye’s life when they attacked his home at Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of Kogi State, Governor Bello didn't utter a word about the incident.
Melaye, in a statement had said the silence of the state governor over the assassination attempt speaks volume.
“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”. a part of Melaye's statement released through his Special Adviser on Media, Gideon Ayodele read.
While reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo, the Governor said he won’t join issue with Melaye, whom he claimed was being hunted by his past.
The statement by Fanwao reads,
“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 called 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 politicized 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.”
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