Melaye raises alarm over alleged intimidation, billboards vandalisation

AHEAD of the February 2019 federal elections, the campaign
organisation of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, has accused
the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and agents of Kogi State
Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of intimidation and harassment of the
opposition.

This was made known to newsmen in Kabba, Kogi State at the
weekend by the Director General, Dino Melaye Senatorial Campaign
Organization, Chief Shola Ojo during its inaugural meeting.

Ojo, a former member of House of Representatives and erstwhile
Secretary to Kogi State Government (SSG) said the meeting
deliberated on sundry issues preparatory to the flag off of the
campaign.

He disclosed that the feedback from supporters of the PDP in
their various locations indicated that agents of the ruling APC had
embarked on the destruction of Melaye’s campaign billboards
allegedly on the orders of local government caretaker
administrators.

He condemned the destruction of Melaye’s campaign billboards by
unknown persons and called for a full investigation by the local
government sole administrators to fish out the culprits or be seen
as accomplishes.

Visits conducted round parts of the senatorial districts,
including Mopamuro, Yagba West and Yagba East local government
headquarters, showed the remains of Melaye’s campaign billboards
either mutilated or outrightly burnt.

He noted that the party was aware of the marching orders handed
hoodlums to mark PDP supporters in the zone as targets of violent
attacks in the days ahead.

He said despite the lifting of the ban on electioneering
campaign by INEC, the meeting initially slated to hold at the Dino
Melaye campaign organisation office along Okene road was later
moved to the Kogi West PDP zonal office, Kabba due to failure to
secure police permit.

The police were said to have referred the conveners of the
meeting to the commissioner of police in Lokoja.

Speaking on the preparedness of Melaye for the campaign based on
his battles in the state, Ojo said “We are of the conviction that
our candidate is innocent and that he will be vindicated in the
end. Let them assure of his protection today, he will submit
himself to the police immediately, but you know the politics behind
these allegations and the risk to his life turning himself in
unassured of protection. I assure you he will be here with us
during the campaign and victory for him is assured. He will come
and nothing will happen.”

However, the state government has described the allegation as
spurious and unfounded, saying Melaye was only playing dirty
politics.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Petra
Onyegbule, said, “It is preposterous to lay such allegations
against the state government. Governor Yahaya Bello is widely
lauded as a governor keen on security and who has done so much to
secure Kogi State.

“He cannot encourage any act of hooliganism or gangsterism.
Cases of vandalism should be reported to the police and not be made
into issues for petty politics.”

Related