PDP Kicks as Thugs Set Ablaze Melaye’s Constituency Projects in Kogi

Yekini Jimoh

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned in strong terms the burning down of two secondary schools built and renovated in the state, as part of Senator Dino Melaye’s constituency projects.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Research and Documentation, Achadu Dickson, the main opposition party said the action by alleged political thugs had once again shown that the state had retrogressed to those dark days, when thugs were kings.

Some political thugs, at about 2 a.m, yesterday, allegedly burnt down blocks of classrooms at the Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma and Lokongoma Secondary School in Lokoja Local Government Area (LGA), which were due for inauguration.

The block of classrooms in the two schools were new projects excuted by Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district of the state as part of his numerous constituency projects.

The hoodlums allegedly burnt down the entire building, including books and furniture.

The schools were set to be inaugurated yesterday, as part of the 143 projects built by the Senator across seven LGAs.

Some thugs had earlier issued a statement, threatening to stop the inauguration and asking the senator not to come to the state.

Melaye has had a running battle with the state governor, leading to a crisis that also led to his failed recall process.

However, Melaye who was in the state yesterday to inaugurate his projects, condemned the burning down of the schools.

The senator, who had earlier inaugurated a block of four classrooms in Taware, Manyare, and 10 kilometers of roads all in Gegu-Beki in Kogi LGA of the state as well as inaugurated a borehole at Felele in Lokoja LGA, said it was sad that some people who were not ready to provide for his people could do such thing.

He lamented that the schools were built for the communities but unfortunately, some politicians who could not provide projects to alleviate the suffering of the down -rodden turned around to sponsor thugs to destroy those projects.

The lawmaker noted that no amount of intimidation and harassment would dissuade him from fulfilling his electioneering campaign promises to the people of his constituency.

But in a swift reaction, the Kogi State Government has condemned in strong terms, the burning of the four constituency projects of Melaye in Lokoja in the state capital by some arsonists.

The Director General, Media and Publicity to the state governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, who spoke on behalf of the state government during an assessment tour of the burnt facilities, also said the state government had directed security operatives to fish out the arsonists.

Fanwo who spoke at the Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Nomo said: “Government condemns the incident. Education is the leading thematic area of the state government and so will not allow any elements derail it.

“Irrespective of who is doing the project, the fund is from the government. So, weather it is the executive or legislative, such projects should rather be applauded and not destroyed.

“We have directed the security operatives to access the situation, get to the root of the matter, unraveled the perpetrators and bring the culprits to book.

“Government will take a decisive action to ensure that the arsonists do not go scout free,” he added.

Also, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya who was amongst the government officials that visited the sites, said government would not fold her arms until the perpetrators are fished out.

“Exams are ongoing and these buildings were being used since January 2018. We expect that people will respect the sanctity of education.This act is masterminded and not accidental. The buildings were burnt, including the chairs. If not for the some serving corps members around who tried to put out the flame, it would have been worse than this,” she said.

The State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Monday Kuryas, who was also at hand, narrated that the hoodlums forced their way into the buildings.

He said the police were already investigating the matter and would soon apprehend the arsonists.

Meanwhile, the the state chapter of the PDP has also condemned the action of the arsonists.

The PDP described the burning of the schools as not a loss to Melaye, but a loss to the children, the community and the state.

The party called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous and dastardly act, pointing out that there had been an earlier threat by some youths to cause mayhem and stop the senator from inaugurating his constituency projects.