The Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Otunba Dino Melaye, has raised the alarm that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has allegedly released N200 million for each of the seven Local Government Areas in Kogi West Senatorial District to facilitate his recall from the Senate.
According to him,,about 30 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who refused to collect the money and sign the recall form being distributed by the Kogi State government have allegedly been arrested by the police.
Among those arrested include the Ward Unit chairman in Ife/Olukotun, Mosunmola Shittu and Raphael Ibitiye, husband of the APC Zonal Woman Leader in Kogi West, Khadijhat Suleiman-Ibitiye.
Melaye in an interview with journalists in Lokoja on Saturday, however, dismissed the threat to recall him as a huge joke.
He said, “Quote me, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has released N200 million for the seven LGAs in my Senatorial District to facilitate my recall from the Senate. The money has been released but they are facing resistance in all pooling units as people refused to sign for the recall form. But he is a joker, my achievements speak for me.
“So far, about 30 persons, including the Ward Unit chairman in Ife/Olukotun, Mosunmola Shittu, have been arrested and taken to the Police Station on the orders of the Kogi State government.
“Also, Raphael Ibitiye, husband of the APC Zonal Woman Leader in Kogi West, Khadijhat Suleiman-Ibitiye, has also been arrested in Yagba East for resisting the so-called recall form. They are trying to use police to intimidate people across the state. They are facing resistance from the people.”
Raphael Ibitiye, a civil servant said he would stand for the truth, rather than mortgage his future for peanut and scrubs from the master’s table.