The attempt at recalling the lawmaker
representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate, Sen Dino
Melaye, is such that would remain a reference point in Nigeria’s
political space considering the factors that threw it up.
No matter, who the crisis favours at the
end, it would definitely leave in its trail a questionable precedent
for actors on the political scene.
From the manner it emerged, to the
pace with which it is being pursued, the ongoing recall process in Kogi
State means different things to different people.
To some, it is a healthy democratic
norm as stipulated in Section 69 of the 1999 Constitution, which
provided 10 steps on how a senator can be recalled from the Senate.
Many others view it as an attempt
allegedly conceived by the executive in the state to push aside, Melaye,
who is a fierce critic of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Notwithstanding, the latter seems to
have gained ground among analysts, who argued that the dynamics of
Nigerian politics are such that could not have easily made a recall
process this fast, especially the collection of signatures at the
constituency level.
Melaye may have had enemies in the
course projecting his convictions on how best the state should be
governed, many think that was not enough to have warranted the
initiation of a recall process by his opponents.
This argument found relevance in the
maxim that a recall process could only be necessitated by discontent on
the part of the members of a constituency and not through external
prodding.
The duo had enjoyed a healthy
relationship as they both worked for the election of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s victory in 2015 at different levels.
Though Melaye worked for the
Audu/Faleke team, the party leadership’s consensus on Bello as Audu’s
successor was supported by the senator.
The senator’s backing of Bello was
believed to have provided key support to Bello, whose emergence as
Audu’s successor was characterized by controversies.
Expectations that the relationship
between the duo would open a new vista in the state, have been dashed by
the current crisis which stems from disagreements over the manner the
state is being governed.
Melaye, a firebrand, among other
things, had accused the governor of not using bailout funds and Paris
Club refund for the betterment of the state and its indigenes.
He had on different occasions, lamented that worker and pensioners in the state were not being given the priority they deserve.
Melaye was also irked that the administration is allegedly using local government caretaker committees to siphon the funds.
Enough is enough
He expatiated his grouse thus: “Yahaya
Bello collected N20 billion from the federal government as bailout fund,
still, he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11 billion from
Paris Club refund money. Still, he refused to pay workers and
pensioners.
“Children can no longer go to school
and 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.
“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.”
At another forum where he launched his new book: Antidotes for Corruption, Melaye regretted supporting the governor.“
If you put him (Wada) alongside
Yahaya Bello today, I will vote for Wada. At least, throughout his
tenure, we did not agree but he never attempted to assassinate me.’’
It was on this premise that the
lawmaker demanded the resignation of the governor, an action observers
found not to have been out of context in any democratic setting.
Instructively, the state has
witnessed protests as a result of the feud with one leading to the death
of three persons at the state capital.
Submission of 188, 580 signatures
The decision to recall the legislator
from the Senate which analysts argued was not original to Melaye’s
constituents, has got the crisis to its peak. And like Melaye, who
accused the governor of funding the recall with N2 billion, not a few
think that Bello’s administration was not instrumental to the process.
However, an earlier report by
SaturdayVanguard had stated that some appointees of the governor from
his Senatorial District were believed to be behind the development which
resulted in the submission of 188, 580 signatures in support of the
petition for Melaye’s recall.
Though the appointees had reportedly
sworn that the governor was not bankrolling the exercise, what seems to
be the interest of his camp in the matter, is somehow giving credence
to suspicions about the origin of the recall exercise.
Bello’s camp is, however, relentless in its claims that the crisis was not birthed by Melaye’s allegations.
While the promoters of the exercise
seem not to be looking back, findings by SaturdayVanguard revealed that
Melaye still commands a huge followership in his constituency with many
uncomfortable with the turn of events.
This is even more evident from the
outpour of solidarity for the Senator by various groups and leaders of
Kogi West Senatorial District.
Most of these groups somewhat
corroborated claims that the process of collecting signatures was
fraught with irregularities occasioned by forgery of signatures.
They were also alarmed that 188,000
signatories were said to have signed the recall paper even when the
total vote cast in the last senatorial election was 111,000.
SaturdayVanguard gathered that the
combination of these and other factors informed the sympathy most
sections of the constituency have for the lawmaker, who is regarded as
one of the leading lights in the Senate.
In fact, majority are concerned that
some of the senator’s kinsmen are believed to be driving the process, a
development that was described as inimical to the interest of Okunland,
where Melaye hails from.
Credibility questions
The fact that most people, who condemned
the exercise hail from Kogi West Senatorial Districts, was found by
SaturdayVanguard to have raised so many credibility questions about the
whole process.
One of such platforms is Okun Professional Network, OPN, an umbrella group of indigenes of Yoruba speaking áreas of Kogi State.
In a jointly signed statement, OPN
said: “We consider it necessary to make this statement as the largest
body of professionals of Okun descent worldwide. We are not unaware of
the events that have led to the recent events culminating in the recall
attempt of our Senator, Dino Melaye. We, therefore, wish to make the
following submissions.
“Our position is that the principle
of leadership by example must always hold in public service and as such,
our conclusions were drawn mostly on this principle. We completely
dissociate ourselves and this noble group, OPN, from any attempt to
coerce or motivate the people of Kogi West to recall Senator Dino
Melaye.
“We wish to call the Senator to give
an account of his stewardship with evidence of performance. Lessons
should be drawn from these events, public office is not for
self-aggrandizement but for service, our leaders should make amends
accordingly.
“We agree with our Senator’s call on
the government to pay all outstanding salaries, pensions, and
allowances in Kogi State immediately without any further delay.”
Similarly, Melaye’s Bunu kinsmen, who were said to be among the signatories to the recall process, denounced being involved.
Mr. Kingsley Mokikan, Leader of Bunu
Youth Forum said:”We have waited for them to submit their petition to
INEC and thank God they have done just that. We are waiting for the next
step from INEC.
“As far as we are concerned as Bunu
Youths, we have not at any time appended our signatures to any document
regarding the recall of Senator Dino Melaye. We in Bunu don’t destroy
the house that we use our hands to build. We voted for Senator Dino and
we have no reason whatsoever to recall him.
We have no reason to recall him
“We are ready to testify in any law
court under oath that we never signed any document and we are ready to
challenge the process in court.
“We have not had it this good in the
history of the Nigerian Senate as far as the District is concerned. Sen
Dino is doing us proud. His legislative prowess has no match. Presently
he has the highest number of Bills and Motions and all these are
people-oriented.
“His problems started when he stood
up to challenge the non-payment of salaries and pensions as well as the
closure of all the higher institutions of learning in the state which no
one has been able to question the governor and his aides about.’’
Also making its position on the
matter known, Okun Development Initiative, ODI, said: “A recall process
premised on the disenchantment of majority of West Kogites with their
elected senator is acceptable but what will not be condoned is every
delusive attempt by those bent on exerting political leverage to dictate
to the majority of Okun people how they should feel about their
senator, why and when they should express their displeasure. Okun people
and Kogi West, in general, should be allowed to decide the fate of
their senator.
Credit: Vanguard
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