Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West), on Friday, put on hold his constituency projects inauguration and thanksgiving service over alleged attacks and tensed security situation in Kogi West Senatorial District.
This announcement followed Wednesday summon of the senator by the Kogi State Police Command over an allegation against the police of attempted assassination on his life posted on his twitter handle, which later was found out, according to the police, not only to be untrue but that his own armed guards were the ones who shot at the policemen on duties thereby injuring a sergeant now critically ill in the hospital.
Melaye disclosed this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Gideon Ayodele, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
He said the tour of his constituency and inauguration of projects which commenced on July 18 was marred by violence.
He said: “You would recall that several weeks ago I announced the plan to tour my Kogi West senatorial district and as well use the opportunity to commission numerous projects I facilitated for my constituents in different locations.
“The inauguration of projects started on Wednesday, July 18, despite the unwarranted arsonism on two schools in Lokoja Local Government area, which can only be the handiwork of my political enemies.
“It has become necessary to put out this statement in the face of Thursday’s unprovoked Police assault on my entourage while returning from Yagba Federal Constituency where I went to commission my constituency projects,” he said.
Melaye, who has been described by his new party, PDP, as political liability and politician requiring serious reformation in a way that PDP must not gamble with contesting on its behalf in 2019, added that all the programmes were expected to culminate in a Grand Finale/Thanksgiving Service on Saturday in his hometown, Aiyetoro-Gbede.
The senator, however, said that all the programmes would have to be put on hold in view of concerns arising from the security situation.
He apologised to his constituents and invited guests for the inconveniences the development might cause them.
“This is, however, a painstaking decision for me in order to safeguard precious lives and property of peace-loving people of Kogi West,” he said.
The DEFENDER reports that Melaye is yet in another crisis as Kogi State Police Command not only denied his claim of attempted assassination of him but also that it was the senator whose armed guards, instead, opened fire at policemen on duties.
Whereas Melaye who, like Ayodele Fayose, has always been the only person that knows, reports and testifies to attacks of any nature against his person has been summoned to report at the state police command.
