Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has warned senator Dino Melaye to desist from causing break down of law and order in the state in his bid to save his political career.
Governor Bello said using “violence to revive his drowning political career” by the Kogi West senator was an ill-conceived tactic that would not be allowed by the relevant security agencies in the state.
He said through his spokesperson, Petra Onyegbule, that the death of a protester in the state must be blamed on Melaye, who also claimed to have escaped assassination after unknown gunmen attacked him as he was rounding off speech at a rally in front of Kogi State Polytechnic.
A student of the polytechnic and one other person were said to have been shot dead while two operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, attached to Melaye sustained gunshot injuries.
But in his reaction, Mr Bello urged the senator to “desist from further plunging the state into needless political crisis capable of threatening the peace and security.
“The governor sincerely regrets the unfortunate incident and calls on the people, youth and students of Kogi to remain calm, law-abiding and refrain from taking laws into their hands in the face of imminent threat to their life and security, whilst assuring them of continued safety and maintenance of security in the state,” Bello said in a statement.
“He is appalled that despite his commitment towards ensuring safety and security for the indigenes and inhabitants of the state and endeavour to rid the state of insecurity and political thuggery, the embattled senator remains hell-bent on causing mayhem in the state in a bid to save his drowning political career.”
The governor said he remains committed to ensuring continuous security and safety of lives and properties in the state.
“The governor calls on young people to desist from being readily available as cheap tools to malicious politicians’ devilish use and manipulation,” the statement further said.
