The Dino Dirge; An End To A Promising Voyage?

ABDULLAHI O HARUNA HARUSPICE

In what seems like a dead end, Senator Dino Melaye took to the social media to release what pricks the heart so deep. The video done in few minutes depict emotions wrapped in constricted grief — like a lamentation of a sort, the Okun born lad wailed his heart in modulated pains bemoaning what appeared like the end of a political journey. I felt pained in my heart as I watched the slate of a beautiful promising lad stained in tragic paint.

Comedy and tragedy go intricately like yam and red oil, there are grotesquely complimentary whiles at a keen deeper look, they are contradictorily opposite. Both have elements of the other sewn into them, but when it comes to comedy, in particular, a little tragedy thrown in translates to a certain kind of absurdity, one that has become quite prevalent in the unending manifestations of Senator Dino Melaye.

The Dino’s videos are very entertaining skits for a nation enveloped by misfortunes, they invoke soothing relief to grieving hearts. Beyond the ephemeral escapism is the reality that why is this comic skit coming from a distinguished senator instead of a Nollywood comedian? Why can’t Senator Dino domesticate his legislative experiences in video skits instead of the comic videos of absurdities everywhere? What legacy is he bequeathing to the young people?

For the money, I think, Dino’s tragedy in comedy is apt because that’s how life works, you use what you have to make money. In his case, however, he is abusing the talent of comedy. One or two times of comic relief is okay but when it becomes habitual, it becomes too silly, juvenile and tragic.

He seamlessly navigates his way through the world of activism, patronage and politics, capturing the minds of Nigerians. The story of this man is a gripping tale of divinely written note laced with lyrical anecdote the tragic comedy experiences of a lad who goes on to become a billionaire by sheer grit and determination.

Dino conveys the tragedy of the Nigerian youth, he symbolizes every Nigerian struggle since he does not have any ancestral influence but like a neatly air-filled balloon, he pierced it thus not just letting out air but bursting the beautiful latex balloon. His full characterization covers the Nigerian reality where personal interest defines existence. Like Ram Mohammed Thomas the child hero in the blockbuster ‘The slumdog millionaire ‘ Dino challenged the Nigerian reality where’ the poor can only dream of a good life and where rule of law are handmaidens of the rich’, Dino forges his destiny through sheer resilience, determination, perseverance, courage and brute force. He became a fascinating reference of inspirations and symbol for the poor masses as they look up to him for inspirations. This was not to be as he too like those before him jumped ship and chose to identify with the oppressors he once fought. From Dino of the people, it became Dino of the rich.

The Dino story deconstructs the reality of the human mind, it reacts and agitates only when her needs are not met. The moment you meet her needs, it capitulates into tamed abode.
The expectation was to have a Dino who will fight poverty, political corruption, economic disparity, abuse of women and children, communal tension, unemployment but it becomes tragic comedic when Dino reversed the expectations. Brazen materialism became his preoccupation as the hope of the poor masses nosedived tragically.

Is inimitable and once promising Dino Melaye giving his end of political dirge in his latest tragic-comedic skit? Only time can tell.

Pensively musing