Ex-lawmaker accuses former deputy governor of orchestrating attacks, recalls assassination attempts
Former senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has launched a scathing response to recent remarks by former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja, in which the latter accused ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of betrayal.
Onoja, in a recent interview, alleged that Bello promised him succession but later turned his back on him by supporting the current governor, Usman Ododo. The former deputy governor, who once enjoyed a close political relationship with Bello, claimed he was sidelined despite years of loyalty.
Reacting to the outburst, Melaye took to his official X handle to warn Onoja against “crying foul,” reminding him of his past alliance with Bello and accusing him of playing a central role in the political battles waged against him. According to Melaye, Onoja not only aligned himself with Bello but also spearheaded multiple efforts to bring him down.
“Edward Onoja should keep quiet. He called Yahaya Bello his twin brother. He aided Bello and should stop crying,” Melaye wrote. He added, “He instituted an FG case against me before Justice Goodluck’s court of the FCT High Court, which I won. He came to court as a witness. He was in charge of my recall and boasted that I would be dead before the end of June 2017.”
The former senator went further, accusing Onoja of masterminding attacks that nearly claimed his life. “They were behind my ordeals. Thank God I survived four assassination attempts where 12 people died, including my nephew, killed in our compound in Iluafon. Today he is whining,” Melaye declared.
In another sharp rebuke, Melaye said Onoja should accept responsibility for his past choices rather than complain. “He enjoyed power, he enjoyed proximity to Bello, and he executed all the dirty assignments. Now that the tables have turned, he wants sympathy. He will get none from me,” he wrote.
The fiery lawmaker also described Onoja’s public lamentations as hypocrisy. “You cannot dine with the devil for years and then cry when you get burnt,” Melaye stated. “He should face the consequences of his actions instead of blaming betrayal.”
By turning the spotlight back on Onoja, Melaye has reignited old tensions within Kogi’s political circle, once again exposing the bitter rivalries and fractured loyalties that have defined the state’s leadership in recent years.
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