Hundreds of women on Saturday staged a peaceful protest in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, over the reported attempt to kill Sen. Dino Melaye on April 15.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 10 gunmen stormed the senator’s house at Aiyetoro-Gbede in the early hours of the said date, and opened fire from various directions.
NAN reports that the entire house was riddled with bullets, while two vehicles parked in the estate were damaged by the hoodlums.
Melaye, who was at home for the Easter holidays, however escaped unhurt.
The women, who were armed with placards and leaves, marched through the street leading to the senator’s house, before assembling at a nearby spot where their leaders delivered speeches.
The protesters, from the seven local governments that make up Melaye’s Kogi West Senatorial District, carried placards, some of which read, “Touch Dino and face our wrath;” “Don’t kill Dino Melaye;” and “Don’t kill the light, let it shine.”
One of the speakers, Mrs. Ikusemoro Jalo, said the solidarity protest was to affirm their support for the senator and condemn the recent attempt on his life.
“We are mothers; we don’t want him to be murdered. He is representing us the way we want. We are proud of him because he has made us proud,” Jalo said.
She advised the senator not to be cowed by the recent attempt on his life, urging him to continue to fight for the rights of women, workers, pensioners, the oppressed and the repressed.
Another speaker, Mrs. Titi Kayode, said assassination had never been part of politics in Okunland, and described those behind the said attempt on the senator’s life as “enemies of peace and progress.”
She called for a quick release of the report of the ongoing investigation into the incident, so that its perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Responding to the protestants, Senator Dino alleged that the reason why Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello wanted him dead was because of his stand on the plight of the state workers and Pensioners.
He noted that workers and pensioners in the state are dying and suffering following the refusal of the governor to pay salary and pensions in the last 15 months, “Yahaya Bello collected N20 billion naira from federal government as bail out fund, still he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11 billion naira from Paris refund money, still he refused to pay workers and pensioners.
“Children can no longer go to school, tenants can no longer pay for house rent, enough is enough the people of Kogi State are tired of this government. I will continue to speak the truth for the sake of my people. No amount of intimidation will stop me from fighting for the course of my people.”
Dino who expressed deep shock over the assassination attempt on his life described the situation as unfortunate, regrettable, highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political-culture of the people of Kogi West.
“In the history of Kogi West, various political gladiators have, at various times, had their differences but none had ever been escalated to the level of attempt on life.
“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.
” I have fought for the rights of the people at the national level, God will not forgive me if I don’t fight for the rights of my people at home.”
He noted that workers and pensioners in the state are dying and suffering following the refusal of the governor to pay salary and pensions in the last 15 months, “Yahaya Bello collected N20 billion naira from federal government as bail out fund, still he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11 billion naira from Paris refund money, still he refused to pay workers and pensioners.
“Children can no longer go to school, tenants can no longer pay for house rent, enough is enough the people of Kogi State are tired of this government. I will continue to speak the truth for the sake of my people. No amount of intimidation will stop me from fighting for the course of my people.”
Dino who expressed deep shock over the assassination attempt on his life described the situation as unfortunate, regrettable, highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political-culture of the people of Kogi West.
“In the history of Kogi West, various political gladiators have, at various times, had their differences but none had ever been escalated to the level of attempt on life.
“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.
” I have fought for the rights of the people at the national level, God will not forgive me if I don’t fight for the rights of my people at home.”
(NAN)
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