‘I came to pay hospital bills but Yahaya Bello tried to kill me’

Speaking at plenary on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, Melaye described the security situation as disturbing.

“I rise this morning to inform the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria of the satanic wicked, manifestation of the governor of Kogi state and his cronies,” Melaye began.

“I went on a regular visit to my constituency to brief my constituents about the government efforts of my recall programme.

“On Sunday, I was in Kabba where a mammoth crowd received me and I addressed them and debriefed them on the propaganda on recall by the state government. After addressing them in a peaceful rally I proceeded to Ijumu local government where I had another very successful rally.

“On Monday, being yesterday I left my village and arrived Lokoja in the company of SSS and police. When I arrived Lokoja I called the director of SSS that I have intelligence that the governor brought in assassins to kill me and the SSS director provided a truck of SSS men to accompany me round. I also called the commissioner of police.

"I called the deputy commissioner of police in charge of criminal investigation and I told him that I want to also go to the federal medical centre to pay bills of indigent civil servants whom because the governor who have not paid for 15 months are unable to pay their medical bills and some of them are to undergo minor surgical operations.

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“The police commissioner provided me additional men. The SSS and police accompanied me to the gate of Kogi polytechnic where I addressed a crowd. I just finished addressing the crowd I got of the rostrum and open my car to go in. I just saw gunmen from the other side firing sporadically.

"I ran into their bullet proof jeep and one particular killer who is notorious and known in Kogi state as a murderer, in fact he beheaded somebody in Okene, it is for that reason, he was brought to SARS in Abuja, he spent months in Abuja and was released few weeks ago. This particular criminal was the one that came and faced my car and opened fire on my car, fortunately he was hitting a bullet car.

“This is the second attack of an assassination attempt on my life orchestrated by the Kogi state government, I also put on record, that those attacking me, we have video evidence, I saw in the midst of assassinators, the caretaker chairman of the Lokoja local government, he was wearing white on white, I saw the special adviser to the governor on security, commander Morgan retired in their midst, I saw in their midst one of the special adviser to the governor called Adoga.

The lawmaker urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Kogi adding that “Governor Bello has failed" to protect the lives and properties of the people.

“I'm sorry to bore you but let me seek your indulgence to read section 305 of the 1999 constitution as amended and specifically 3 (c) which reads thus 'the president shall have power to a proclamation of state of emergency when there is break down of public order and public safety in the federation or in any party thereof of such extent as to require extra-ordinary measure to restore peace and security.'

“I will seek the leave of this senate to bring a proper motion to ask for the declaration of a State of emergency in Kogi state. As I speak to you Kogi state is no longer passable since Yahaya Bello became the governor. Kidnap is going on, on daily basis. Insecurity on the rise than ever. There has been four jail breaks in Kotorn Karfe prison.

Melaye accused Governor Bello of using the arms in the Kogi state government armoury for other purposes.

He called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to conduct an audit of the arms and ammunitions in the Kogi state armoury.

"We cannot continue like that, there is already a state of anarchy. I want to say that the senate investigate the matter, not just an investigation but to do the audit of all arms and ammunition in the Kogi state police command, specifically the armoury in government house," Melaye noted.

In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu condemned the incident in Kogi state which led to loss of lives in the state.

He appealed to the federal and state government to ensure that the citizens and properties are protected.