By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
Nigeria’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Kogi State has formally unveiled Senator Dino Melaye as its Governorship flag-bearer in November Governorship election in the state.
Kogi State PDP Chairman, Mr. Sam Ohuotu, performed the presentation of the party’s Flag to Senator Melaye, at the party stakeholders meeting held in Lokoja, on Wednesday.
Mr. Ohuotu said the public presentation of Sen. Melaye as the party’s flag-bearer was a symbolic show of unity, strength, and spirit of togetherness in the party, to prepare it for victory in the Governorship election as he calls on the party members to work together in the interest of the party, and the future of Kogi State, irrespective of their group interests.
Responding, Senator Melaye, pleaded with the party members and leaders to support his candidacy to regain power for the PDP in the state declaring his intention to govern the state with fear of God and a strategic approach to the development of the state, “I’m a newly improved Dino Melaye. I will do things differently to achieve different results for Kogi State.
“If I’m elected Governor by the grace of God, I will leverage the human and material resources of the state to effect positive change in socio-economic life as a distinct people of grace and industry to raise the standard of living of our people through strategic leadership, technology and innovation in governance.”
Melaye, stirred the emotion of his party members when he publicly begged for forgiveness, “I have deliberately and unintentionally offended a sea of heads in the course of politicking, but I beg your forgiveness; our struggle is not about Dino but the future of Kogi State,” he pleaded with party members.
Senator Melaye said, “The slogan of our Campaign is, ‘One Kogi State, One Destiny’ adding that, “Dino stands for the Igala Agenda”, referring to the political interest of the largest ethnic group in the state and its political influence in the making of a Governor in the state, as the Igala ethnic group are in the majority compared to every other single ethnic group in Kogi State.
Eminent PDP members in the state, including former Governor Ibrahim Idris, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senator Mohammed Ogembe, Olusola Akanmode, and other ex-legislators from the state, pledged to support the Dino Candidacy as they urged other party members to close ranks in order to clinch electoral victory as the Kogi State Governorship election draws nearer.
