AKINOLA, Opeyemi Michael
My trip to Lokoja of Kogi State on Tuesday, 11th day of April, 2023, changed my perspective about the persona of the former senator of Kogi West Senatorial Zone, Kogi State, who is by the name of Senator Dino Melaye.
I was to travel to Lokoja for a programme on the 11th of April, 2023 as early as possible to meet up with a deadline already fixed for me in Lokoja.
Thirteen others and I had waited for hours in an expectation for a bus which would convey us. I could infer from the conversation among my potential fellow passengers that they were already growing out of patience and one woman in particular had decided to leave if she waited an hour later and there was no vehicle. The seemingly endless waiting for a vehicle caused two people to leave for their homes, maybe.
No sooner than they left when the horn sound of an approaching bus was heard. In seconds later, the bus buzzed to life like a swarm of angry hornets. As the bus vroomed and parked before us, we got into it almost immediately. The car ignited and in a rhymic blinker, we headed for Lokoja.
One man and I got in the front seat of the bus. Although his eyes were bright and engaged, his wrinkled face gave away his true age. The closest guess would suggest he would be in his late seventies.
There was silence for a long time. Nobody seemed to want to be the first to break the silence. But, suddenly, a woman glowered, “Driver! Driver!! Please, the speed is dangerously high. You know the road is bad.”
“Yes, it is at the extreme,” a man from the rear of the bus blubbered, he continued, “Take note of these numerous potholes. May we arrive safely.”
“Amen!” Passengers all chorused.
“Not totally my fault. It is government’s. If the roads are fixed, there wouldn’t have been a need for this,” the driver finally demurred.
The driver’s last statement seemed to be comical as most passengers snickered with roaring laughter. I heard them laugh uncontrollably for minutes.
I was surprised. “Why are you people laughing?” I couldn’t help but to ask. “What’s funny in the statement of the driver?”
“Otilo,” a young man responded, “Driver man, sope otilo.”
“Why would you say that?” The driver boomed. “Is government not responsible for fixing of roads again? I don’t understand why you people are laughing. I don’t just.”
A woman jabbed, “Driver. It is true that government fixes road and facilitates developmental projects for his people, but it is funny to everyone here because an administration that does not pay salaries will never consider fixing roads.”
“Don’t mind oga driver, another person said and continued, “Doesn’t he know that something as simple and very important to a people-centred government is the payment of salaries which is not prioritized by the Yahaya Bello-led administration. Is it the same Bello that will help fix your death-trap of a road? Dey play, just dey play.” Everyone laughed including myself.
“The truth is that, Bello’s administration is the worst in history. The prayer we should all be praying is that the next administration should be God’s compensation for this hardship,” another man chortled.
“Amen O!” We chorused.
“It will be better when Dino becomes the governor,” said, a woman who had not actively participated in the conversation.
“Yes, Dino is the solution!” The driver said.
“Do you think Dino is any better? They are all the same jare,” someone said.
“Yes, Dino is better,” the man who appeared, from his facial appearance, to be the oldest on the bus cleared his throat. He continued, “Dino is the best man for the job. He will correct the errors made by the underperforming Bello.”
“Daddy! What makes you think Dino is the solution?” Someone asked baba who was already readjusting his position on the seat. He reached out to an handkerchief in his small bag and wiped down his face.
Baba responded, “Dino has touched so many lives positively. He is a friend to the masses. He gives hope to the hopeless. Dino is a reacuer of lives of people on the wheels of death.” Tears began to stream down his frail cheeks. It appeared that there was an emotional information which he was about to share that got him teary.
“Baba. Please, don’t cry. What really happened? We are with you, sir.” Someone said.
“It was in 2019. A very terrible, unforgettable year of my life. I was down with a life-threatening sickness. The doctor had told me that I had four days to live if the surgery was not done. How would I get the N6 million for the surgery? I had no one. My kids were still struggling. There was no way they could raise the money. I had said my last prayers and made certain confessions, waiting for death to come on me in four days to come. I had my sold all my properties – including my house. All I gathered was N1.7million! I had a long way to go.”
Pellets of tears gulped out from my eyes. The atmosphere was tensed by shrieks of ‘Eh-yah! Oh, God. This is serious’
“Well, a man reached out to Dino Melaye on my behalf and he responded immediately. Not only that Dino paid all my medical bills, but also gave me a brand new life afterwards. All that I had paid was returned to me. He gave me a lot of money to take care of myself. I am alive today, hale and hearty, to tell the testimony.”
“That Dino is truly a good man. If he becomes the Governor of Kogi State, it will be our greatest joy,” the driver insinuated.
“Yes, I agree to that. Dino is kind. He hates to see others in trouble. He is my human savior,” a young lady whom I later found to be a 400l undergraduate of Federal University, Lokoja, said after some deep sigh!
“I never knew Dino is this good,” a woman had said.
“Yes, he is,” responded the young final year lady. She continued, “I lost my dad in 2018. It was just a month before I gained admission. Because of my father’s death, my mom, who was working as a nanny in a private primary school with a salary of N8,500, had suggested that I should learn a trade from which I could sponsor myself through the University.”
“Young lady. I understand perfectly what your mom would have gone through before coming up with that suggestion. I was there also. After my husband died and all responsibilities fell upon me, I nearly gave up. I understand how it feels. I’m sorry about the loss,” a woman said.
The young lady continued with her story, “On a memorable Saturday, a woman suggested that I should go see Dino Melaye who was in Aiyetoro on that day. I didn’t want to go in the fear of the expected mob of people that would be around him and they would not allow me to get in touch with him. Eventually, I gathered the courage to go. Fortunately, there was just a handful group of people seated with him under the shade of a tree. I moved near him and immediately let down my weight, rolling on the ground. He told me to stand up, patiently listened all I had to say and then told his PA to collect my contact number. He promised to get in touch with me. And he did! In fact, he has been the one responsible for everything about me in school. By God’s grace, I’ll be a graduate this year,” the young student chimed.
“What a touching recount! I was moved to tears listening to the stories from baba and you. I think I’m giving my support for Dino. He deserves it. Many people wanting to be governor today is for self and not for the people. Dino is different. With him, Kogi will be healed,” someone said.
In essence, my trip to Lokoja exposed me to the true identity of the persona of Dino Melaye. I didn’t know that Dino is not only smart and very intelligent, he is kind-hearted, too. He is, indeed, a man who works his talks.
After the young student had finished talking, someone on the bus, who apparently not in support of what had been said about Dino Melaye, retorted, “What did Dino do as a senator?”
Someone responded, “Although I am not a fan of Dino Melaye, but don’t go there. I’m from Kogi West Senatorial Zone and I can say Dino is the best Senator we have had in history. As a human being with a functioning conscience, I have to be sincere even though I don’t agree to Dino on some other levels. Talk about facilitation of projects across Kogi West, Dino’s records have not been broken.”
“Yes, it is true. I’m also from Kogi West. I’m not also a member of PDP as Dino but truth should be told, Kogi West people are proud of Dino till tomorrow. If I were to vote on the basis of good representational prowess, I would go for Dino, but if I were to consider party in the place of personality, I would go for whoever my party brings on stage,” another person said.
From my trip and other stories I have heard about Dino Melaye and my personal encounter with him, he is the Messiah Kogi has been praying for. A vote for Dino Melaye is a vote for good representation which is people-centred and development-oriented.
