This is not the end of Senator Dino Melaye politically, he shall rise
again pretty soon. He is like the calabash in water, hardly can it be
suppressed. We have seen him rose from obscurity to limelight – from
seemingly nowhere to somewhere. He brought Okun land to national
reckoning and sustained it thus far. He seamlessly navigates his way
through the world of activism, patronage and politics, capturing the
minds of Nigerians. The story of this man is a gripping tale of divinely
written note laced with lyrical anecdote the tragic comedy experiences
of a lad who goes on to become a billionaire by sheer grit and
determination. In ABU Zaria, he bulldozed his way into the consciousness
of students unionism and remains a deciding reference until he exited
the scene into the world of politics.
Characteristics of a goal-getter, he integrated himself into the
political structure of General Buba Marwa when the latter was contesting
Nigeria’s presidency under the People’s Democratic Party. Marwa lost the
ticket but Dino won’t go the way of Marwa as he launched himself
politically and thus began his voyage into national politics in 2007
when he won the seat to represent his people in the National Assembly as
a member representing Kabba/Ijumu Federal Constituency. From a mere
students agitator, Dino had become a federal legislator! This
unprecedented voyage would soon hit the rock when the devil in him
manifested as he became the unofficial defender of Patricia Etteh,
Speaker of the House of Representatives then. He could take a bullet for
her, he could fight anyone for her. By the time Etteh had vacated her
position, it was a Dino that was left at the mercy of his colleagues. To
reclaim his legitimacy as a honourable member, he had to employ
different surviving mechanism including fighting physically. In one of
these infamous outings, Dino was reduced to nakedness as every piece of
clothing on him was shredded in rags. And this followed with an 8 months
suspension from the House!
Like an Abiku child, Dino returned again in 2015 when he joined forces
with the progressives to dislodge the people ‘s Democratic Party. He was
the official MC of all the APC presidential campaigns and life in the
party was an assured one for the Okun boy survivalist. In Kogi State, he
became a strong political decider having won his first senatorial
contest- having defeated Senator Smart Adeyemi of the PDP. Together, he
galvanized votes for late Prince Abubakar Audu. He was the right-hand
man of Audu. Then came Audu’s death and Dino changed. He didn’t only
change but changed to a spitting viper, taunting the Igalas as being too
greedy with power. That was when he made his infamous speech, ‘The
people voted for Audu, but God made Bello Governor, therefore, anyone
who is against Bello is against God’!
Dino, now a senator in the 8th Assembly resurfaced again this time more
daring than ever. With the unpopular emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki
as Senate President as against the wishes of his party’s wish, Dino
assumed the position of a defender, attacker and striker for Saraki. He
was firing from all angles. No one was spared in his protection of
Saraki’s territorial dynasty. First to be hit, were the Tinubus, he
reduced the Jagaban to almost a scorning reference. So daring and
impulsive was Dino that he almost beat up Senator Remi Tinubu-
threatening to put her in the family way! Not done, he took a flight to
Boundilion – Tinubu’s residence and challenged the political godfather
to touch him.
Not done, he took on his governor, Kogi state Alhaji Yahaya Bello, this
fight was perhaps Dino’s albatross. This fight together with the others
led to the political predicament of Dino. Yahaya Bello, another young
man with pulsating energy as Dino went to the gutters as he mercilessly
engaged Dino to a standstill. So vicious was the fight that Dino became
a fugitive in Kogi state. Several attempts were made to have brought to
Lokoja where cases of illegal arms possession, murder were tied to him.
It was during this court order to have him face the law in Lokoja that
he jumped from a moving vehicle and almost put ‘police in trouble’. Same
time he climbed a tall tree running from assassins as he put it.
From every corner, Senator Dino was fighting everyone including the
police. So notorious was his fight that he found the president as his
last resort. During the 2018 Budget presentation, Dino was alleged to
have led the booing gang that booed and humiliated president Muhammadu
Buhari. So infuriated was the president that he left without waiting to
hear the address of the leadership of the National Assembly. And since
then, it was love lost relationship between Saraki, Dogara and the
president with Dino playing the undertaker.
Can we also say of his needless jibe on Senator Godswill Akabio during
the valedictory ceremony of the 8th senate? In his usual uncouth jab, he
mocked Akpabio for losing his bid to return to the senate and reminded
him that only the street would Akpabio find resort having lost in all
fronts. Today, Akpabio is a senior minister and one of the new APC
leadership in the South-South while Dino is a guest of the street having
lost his own senatorial bid. Indeed there is mystery in the affairs of
men.
Dino conveys the tragedy of the Nigerian youth, he symbolizes every
Nigerian struggle since he does not have any ancestral influence but
like a neatly air-filled balloon, he pierced it thus not just letting
out air but bursting the beautiful latex balloon. His full
characterization covers the Nigerian reality where personal interest
defines existence. Like Ram Mohammed Thomas the child hero in the
blockbuster ‘The slumdog millionaire ‘ Dino challenged the Nigerian
reality where’ the poor can only dream of a good life and where rule of
law are handmaidens of the rich’, Dino forges his destiny through sheer
resilience, determination, perseverance, courage and brute force. He
became a fascinating reference of inspirations and symbol for the poor
masses as they look up to him for inspirations. This was not to be as he
too like those before him jumped ship and chose to identify with the
oppressors he once fought. From Dino of the people, it became Dino of
the rich.
As it is, the 9th Assembly may sail without Dino Melaye unless of
course, the court decides otherwise. Until then, he is going to be a
tenant of the street same place he wished Senator Godswill Akpabio. This
is what unguided heroism can cause, it makes one vulnerable, exposed and
opened to needless harms. The chick survived the fury of the hawks
because it lies low from the prey of the hawks. Please save your
promising rise by choosing the fight that suits you as the furious rise
of a child is usually not lasting especially when the child is against
nature.
Take a bet, the Dino Melaye I know, a perilously intelligent, an
uncommon fighter defined in sheer doggedness will bounce back again. He
has defined an impenetrable template of survival. From an abysmally poor
background, the Okun born lad extricated himself from the intimate
embrace of poverty. That he is where he is today, is a testimony that
where you come from is never a limitation to what you are today. Using
empirical measurements, I dare to say that Dino has broken the ceiling
of limitations. He has redefined what struggle for emancipation is. He
is a walking reference of grass to grace. when his rebound will happen,
only time can tell. Until then, it is the end of an era for this enigma.
Abdullahi O. Haruna Haruspice writes from Garki Abuja
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