Kogi Crisis: Group Accuses Melaye Of Blackmailing Gov. Bello

Dino Melaye-Yahaya Bello

A group known as Kogi Professional Forum (KPF) and 200 other civil society groups yesterday in Abuja berated Senator Dino Melaye and the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for setting up a committee to probe alleged anti-party activities against Governor Yahaya Bello, describing the move as a futile one.

The Kogi APC last week named Senator Melaye as head of an 11-man disciplinary committee to probe the Kogi governor over allegations that he favoured members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in appointments into his cabinet.
Addressing a press conference in the nation’s capital, the leader of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Ali, said it was wrong of Melaye (APC-Kogi West) and other disgruntled leaders of the party to accuse the governor of engaging in anti-party activities.

The group accused the senator of orchestrating the crisis because of selfish interest, adding that Melaye was only out to distract the governor from pursuing the vigorous agenda of developing the state.
Ali also debunked the allegation that Gov. Bello appointed non-APC members as commissioners and his personal aides.
“The governor should be commended for his large-hearted policy of inclusive government rather than archaic policy of winner takes it all”, Ali said.

The group also berated the Kogi APC Chairman, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo and other leaders of the party for supporting the call to probe Bello over the appointments he has made since becoming governor on January 27, 2016.
“For the records, having single-handedly nominated the secretary to the state government, Melaye had no locus standi to accuse the governor of sidelining him in the scheme of things in the state”, it said.
Ali further stated that Melaye, who played a prominent role in the inauguration of Bello, should stop blackmailing the governor and face the responsibility of making laws, which the people of his senatorial district elected him to do.
“Dino should stop blackmailing the governor and face the business for which he was elected, join hands with other well-meaning people and give Kogi west the desired representation”.