Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, more contenders have continued to declare their interests in the race to the ‘Lugard House’.
Governor Yahaya Bello who is seeking a second term in office under the platform of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is walking a tight rope as he would be facing a tough political contest within his party and from the opposition parties, particularly the PDP.
In the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over 30 aspirants have already indicated their interests for the contest while more are expected to join the race in the weeks ahead. Amongst those jostling to slug it out with the governor under the platform the PDP includes immediate past governor, Capt. Idris Wada; his brother and staff of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Musa Wada; Senator Dino Melaye; security expert, Dr. Joseph Erico Ameh; businessman and son of a former governor Ibrahim Idris, Abubakar Idris; former Deputy Speaker of Kogi Assembly , Emma Omebije; former Commissioner for Health and erstwhile President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Idris Omede; another former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Aku; a former Ankpa Council chairman, Hassan Yakubu Enape; a former bank executive, Dr Victor Alewo Adoji; a retired regional manager with Nigerian Brewery, Muhammed Shaibu Tetes and a retired Army General, Patrick Akpa. In the ruling APC, prominent amongst those jostling to wrestle the party’s ticket from Bello include a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Jibrin Usman (rtd); a brother to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Audu; a sports administrator, Sani Lulu; Director General of Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera and a former commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Tim Nda Diche and host of others.
Perhaps, the recent declaration by Senator Melaye (PDP, Kogi West) to contest the number one seat of Kogi State would have further increased the tally of contenders governor Bello would have to face. The entrance of Dino Melaye into the governorship race is generating reactions and conversations amongst the political class in the state. While some are of the view that Dino should have focused his attention on his job at the Senate having won his re-election bid in the last election, others however said that he should be allowed to “test the waters.
” Deep rooted rivalry between Dino, Bello A contest between Governor Bello and Senator Dino would be akin to a battle of titanic proportion. Dino, according to observers, has remained “a thorn in the flesh” of Governor Bello especially on the account of his constant criticisms and attacks over alleged bad governance in Kogi. Both Bello and Dino were good friends before “things fell between. them” To many watchers of the unfolding political scenario in Kogi State, the feud between Bello and Melaye may have come as a surprise.
Dino was believed to be among the strong forces that supported Bello when the APC national leadership nominated him (Bello) as the replacement for its late flag-bearer, Prince Abubakar Audu, who died on the verge of victory in the November 21, 2015 governorship election. Senator Dino served as chairman of the transition committee that worked out the modalities for a hitch-free handover of power to Bello and his eventual inauguration on January 27, 2016. Given the close affinity that existed between them, Dino also served as the master of ceremony for the inauguration of Governor Bello at the main bowl of the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.
But a few months after the inauguration, the “political honeymoon” was replaced by sour relationship amid discordant tunes and cacophonic beating of war drums from the two camps. The two camps have over the past three years thrown a lot of tantrums at each other, either directly or indirectly. Dino has over the past three years faced several arrests by the police with ongoing prosecutions in courts both in Abuja and Kogi.
