Cardinal Onaiyekan Decries Dispute Between Kogi Gov, Melaye

The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has decried the longstanding dispute between the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and Senator Dino Melaye.

The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria who expressed his disapproval of the feud during an interview with Daily Sun, said he will do what he can to settle the disagreement between the leaders.

He noted that although none of the parties had brought the issue to him, he will reach out to Senator Melaye.

According to him, the feud had become detrimental to the state, as the fight was beginning to take a toll on the masses.

He said, “I have not seen any of them. They have not brought their case to my court.

“The only plan I have in mind is to talk to Dino Melaye, who represents me in the Senate. But we have not had time to meet.”

On whether he would also speak with Bello, Onaiyekan said, “I was thinking about it too. I was asking my colleague, the bishop of Lokoja who is sharing fence with the governor whether he has visited him.

“But apparently, the attitude of the governor did not seem as if he would welcome any intervention from somebody like the bishop of Lokoja. That is what I am getting from him.

“And it doesn’t seem as if the Anglican Bishop of Lokoja is having any impact on the situation.

“Obviously, the quarrel between Melaye and the governor is not helping the state. We wish we could have a window of opportunity to intervene for the sake of the state because the poor people are suffering,” Onaiyekan concluded.