The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, Mr. Dino Melaye has told the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike to steer clear of Kogi politics.
Melaye stated this while reacting to the remarks by Wike in a television interview that he (Melaye) lacks the capacity to be governor and does not have what it takes to defeat the candidates of the other parties should he win the PDP primary.
“When you give Dino that ticket you know he won’t win in Kogi state. You’re talking about governance of a state, we are not talking about drama.
“Dino does not have what it takes. What is he going to do? Why would Kogi people say they will vote for Dino? Are we joking?
“He does not have what it takes to be a governor at all. It is not about coming to act drama on television.
“Does it mean now that if the PDP wants to win the election, it would give the ticket to Dino and you say tomorrow that you were rigged when you have already killed yourself?
“Are we saying that we want to win an election or just have a candidate?” Wike said.
Melaye fired back at the governor saying he would never kowtow to Wike who, according to him, likes to be worshipped like a god.
“We will never serve Oluwa Wike because he believes he is a god; Rivers State people can continue to serve him. Kogi no be Lagos,” he said in a television interview yesterday.
Melaye recalled that Wike was his biggest supporter when he vied for the governorship of Kogi State in 2019 but wondered what had changed between then and now.
“I will want Nigerians to know that Wike was my biggest supporter when I ran for governorship in 2019, financially, and even otherwise. Apart from funding me… in the last governorship election in 2019, he provided his private jet to drop me in Kogi on the day of the primary. That is to show you the level, magnitude and intensity of his support and belief in me. So the man who saw competence and capacity in me, and invested in that project, today in 2023, is saying that I am not qualified. The only explanation to that is psychotic disorderliness. The only explanation to that is mental fatigue.
“I am more qualified to be governor. To the glory of God, I have nine university degrees, I have been a member of the house of representatives, I have been elected twice to the senate, I have been aide to the president of federal republic of Nigeria, so I don’t know who is more qualified to be governor between me and Wike,” he said.
The governorship aspirant added: “Wike should be reminded that Kogi is not Rivers, and the people of Kogi State would not worship any foreign God. Above all, Wike should also understand that power belongs to God, and He gives it to whoever he wants, even the basest of men. And but for this absolute and indiscriminate dispensation by God, how did a person like Nyesom Wike become a governor? Is it his oratory, diligence, finesse, wealth or intellectual endowment?”
Melaye also rubbished Wike’s political value, cataloguing how the candidates he supported in the last general election were all defeated at the poll.
“Wike supported the senatorial ambition of the governors of Benue, Abia, and Enugu states – Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – but he could not deliver any of them. He funded the PDP governorship candidate in Cross River State, Sandy Onor; Young Progressives Party (YPP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Albert Akpan; they both failed. Wike did not support the governor of Osun State – Ademola Adeleke – but the man won the election,” he added.
Melaye said Wike was angry because he refused to support his presidential ambition.
“I can understand the pain of Wike. He wanted my support for his misplaced aspiration to become the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential election, but knowing his avowed credential to be eminently unworthy of the ticket I deployed support for His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, a cosmopolitan and cultured statesman who ignored all the tantrums of Wike throughout the period of the election.
“Wike is probably mistaken me for His Excellency Atiku Abubakar. He needs to appreciate that now that he has touched the tiger’s tail and murdered sleep, the discomfort of a bird perched on a rope has now become his portion.
“If Wike were a reflective mind he should now be more concerned about his post-tenure survival, because with the recklessness he exhibited in mismanaging the resources of Rivers State, his prison uniform must have been sewn and his inmate number must be waiting for his allocation. As for me I will not only continue to savour my freedom, I will be sending relief assistance to Wike from government house Lokoja, by the grace of God.
“The indiscretion and war of attrition embarked on by Wike contributed to the public perception of our great Party. He sees nothing good in the Leadership of the Party, yet he cannot move to another Party, because which Party will accept Wike in his irredeemable state of ignominious liability
“As the good people of Kogi State prepare for the gubernatorial election, the choice is theirs to make. All the evil machinations and self-destructive conduct of Wike will fail. I have neither sought for nor expected support from Wike. My aspiration is on course. The least I will spare time is distractions from the contentions of the untamed tongue of Wike. As I move forward, I’m guided by the Scriptural invocation:
“For the Lord God will help me; therefore, I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
“Wike, stay on your lane. I am Daniel Dino Melaye. My specialty is to tame lions, whether they be white or black, dwelling in rocks or floating on Rivers,” he added.
