The political crisis in Kogi State has continue to rage ahead of 2019 general election with the key politicians strategising to outwit each other. The crisis recently, one of the outstanding politician in the state was declared wanted by the police, with the Nigerian Police authorities directing the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to arrest Senator Dino Melaye anywhere he was found in the world.
The police had alleged that some political thugs were hired and armed by the lawmaker.
However, the INTERPOL on Tuesday explained why it has refused to do the bidding of the Nigeria Police by placing Senator Melaye on its Watch List, about a week after the Kogi State Command declared him wanted over what his media aide in a statement described as “pre-meditated and spurious allegations of illeagal possession of firearms and arming political thugs.”
According to a statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to Senator Dino Melaye, Gideon Ayodele, “There is no doubt that the position of the INTERPOL validates his assertions and belief that the latest allegations against him were politically motivated by the Kogi State government and its agents, hence he has been vindicated from outside Nigeria since INTERPOL does not engage in “politically-motivated operations”.
“We have earlier expressed our worry regarding the institution of the Nigeria Police becoming entangled in the Kogi political crisis and its partial involvement rather than a mediator or law enforcement agency.
“Perhaps the message to the local police will be more lounder now that INTERPOL has refused to be dragged into local and partisan politics in Kogi State.
“We are not surprised by the INTERPOL pronouncement regarding Senator Dino Melaye because its charter forbids it, at least in theory, from undertaking interventions or activities of a political, military, religious, or racial nature or involving itself in disputes over such matters”, the Senator’s spokesman said.