The National Association of Okun Students (NAOS) has thrown its weight behind the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Dino Melaye ahead of the November 11 Governorship election in Kogi State.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, President of NAOS, Comrade Ajibade Olamilekan David, stated that the group narrowed its choice to the PDP candidate after carefully analysing the capacity and competence of the three gladiators from the Senatorial District.
The group acknowledged that Dino Melaye possesses the requisite capacity, competence and composure the state currently needs to fix the mirage of challenges confronting it.
It described the former senator representing Kogi West as the best of the three candidates from the zone based on his antecedents and experience and exposure.
The group pointed out that the PDP candidate’s experience which stands him towering above the rest, was adequate enough to recommend him for a greater responsibility.
On the recent endorsement of a consensus candidate by the Kogi West Elders’ Forum, KWEF, the body said it would be counterproductive and unfortunate for anyone to overlook the structure of the PDP and its candidate for a lesser one.
While describing the endorsement as, “cutting the nose to spite the face”, the body said the PDP remains the most viable platform among the three parties that have presented candidates in the District.
NAOS therefore appealed to the electorate, parents and youth alike, to be more circumspective and vote massively for Sen. Dino Melaye as governor in the November 11 election.
The statement read:
The National Association of Okun Students (NAOS), on behalf of thousands of Okun Students, and by extension, Kogi West Students, hereby assertively and unequivocally express our unalloyed support for the candidacy of the PDP candidate for Kogi State Governorship election, Senator Dino Melaye, come 11th of November 2023.
It will be recalled that much earlier than now, before any party primary was conducted, this apex students’ body in Kogi West District, expressed the need to produce the next Governor of Kogi State from Kogi West District, as a fair, equitable and just consideration for any political party that upholds the tenets of democracy.
Consequently, only the PDP conducted a free, fair, and transparent primary where a son of Kogi West, in the person of Senator Dino Melaye, emerged as the governorship candidate.
We, however, reckon that we have three candidates from our district, Kogi West, all of whom are of Okun extraction. We also have access to the three, but after a careful analysis of the experience, the political network and impact across the district, the viability of their political parties and their capacity to leverage on state and national political structures, the inevitable and logical conclusion is that the PDP candidate, Senator Dino Melaye, is the best among them based on all relevant criteria, which are:
Capacity Acceptability Political Experience Accessibility Intellectual prowess Political structure Capacity
The PDP candidate has proven beyond reasonable doubts that he has all it takes to make our dear State a prosperous place for all and sundry.
The capacities he demonstrated during his last held positions are second to none in our history.
Kogi West benefitted in project development during his term as Senator representing Kogi West.
Also, his outspoken and vibrant spirit towards ensuring good governance in Nigeria as a whole is evidence of his zeal for growth.
Acceptability:
After our long consultation, we noticed that the street credibility and love for Dino Melaye were not met by any other candidates. Our Students and Youths across Kogi West and across the entire scope of Nigeria see Dino Melaye as the Voice for the Voiceless and therefore have given their unalloyed pledge of vote to his candidacy. We have visited our various schools, and the Love for Dino is so massive that it is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf.
Political Experience
Senator Dino Melaye was at various times a Student Union Leader like us. He became a Representative Member of Kabba Bunu/ Ijumu Federal Constituency. He went on to be elected twice as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is on record that he received the award of the most outstanding Senator during his terms in the Senate, where he served in various Capacities. His accumulated experience is adequate to recommend him for a greater responsibility.
Accessibility
Senator Dino Melaye is best in terms of relating with Students and Youths as he sees us as one of his constituents. He is a Comrade like us who always takes pleasure in meeting and interacting with us.
His Love for Youths’ development is unprecedented and, of course, unequalled by any of the candidates.
Intellectual prowess
Senator Dino Melaye has obtained diverse credentials and administrative knowledge which make him soundly equipped and brilliantly positioned
more than other candidates in our District. It shall be just enough to put all our eggs in a safe basket, to get it right now and for once.
Senator Dino Melaye remains ever ready to bring the dividend of democracy and that of good governance to all citizens.
Political Structure
Recent political events in our nation has brought out the undeniable factor of political structure in attaining electoral success. The PDP, which Senator Dino Melaye represents is the most viable platform among the three parties that have presented candidates in the District. The Party does not only have vibrant structures in Kogi West, it is deeply rooted in the state and at the National level. Overlooking the PDP for some smaller parties will only amount to cutting the nose to spite the face.
We call on all students, workers, and our hardworking but grossly underpaid parents to vote massively for Senator Dino Melaye, who is flying the flag of PDP on November 11, 2023.
We say Amalia Awetsu (nothing shall discourage us) God Bless Kogi West!
God Bless Kogi State!!
God Bless NAOS!!!
Conrr. Ajibade Olamilekan David National President