OPINION
INEC has announced January , 2022 deadline for the parties , Gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti State . Any critical observer from afar using all scientific tools and indices would come to the inevitable conclusion that Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (M.O.B) representing Ekiti Central Senetorial Constituency remains the best hand to man the deck of the Oke Ayoba Government House and win the Governorship elections on 18th June 2022.
Things are however , not always as,they seen in Nigeria political mine – fields.
History has shown that Ekiti people don’t usually vote a set of people or party in succession . It is equally not clear weather the ruling party of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s , All Progress Congress (APC) is striving well enough to put its house in order before the scheduled deadline for party primaries . On the other hand , the main opposition , People Democratic Party(PDP) is working tiredlessly leaving no stone untouched to stage a come back to occupy the Ekiti State Government House . Engr. Segun Oni , a former Governor is on. full throttles to ensure that PDP win the Governorship elections.
Without mincing words or any embellishments in terms of political -experience , professional credentials, personality – mien , Senator Bamidele stands tower high above any other candidates. More-importantly , he is the only Candidate that has commenced affirmative campaigns thus far . M.O.B, as he his popularly called has been reaching out to all nooks and crannies of the state across constituencies Local Government Areas, wards and vital socio – cultural organizations .
Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (M.O.B) started his political life as a students union leader at the famous University of Ife (now , Obafemi Awolowo University :- OAU) where he bagged a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1986. At the University of Benin where he got his LL.B in 1990 , he served as the President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) .
Opeyemi Bamidele leadership of NANS, led the famous Anti -SAP mass protest against Rtd. Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida . After Law School, he became embedded in the underbelly of the pro-democracy movement that chased away the military junta in 1999 . He is a fellow of several institutes including Institute of Management Consultant ,Local Government and Administration, Arbitration etc.
On return to democratic rule in May, 1999, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi threw his hat into the ring of political service for humanity where he served the Lagos State Government for nine years , 2002-2011 as an utility , multi – purpose professional , Adviser ,Consultant , Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development as well as that of Information and Strategy. He entered Ekiti State politics serving as an Honorable member of the House of Representatives in the 7th National Assembly . M.O.B has taken a shot at the Ekiti State Governorship ticket twice, 2014 and 2018.
After Loosing in the primaries to the incumbent Governor John Kayode Fayemi, as a loyal party member , he accepted to serve as the Director General of JKF campaign Organization . In the course of the campaigns , he was injure in shooting incidence which can be described literarily as “taking a bullet for Fayemi” .
Ironically ,rather than just taking a bow to unaminously award the gubernatorial ticket of the party to a faithful party starlwarth like Bamidele Opeyemi, a number of thick plots and intrigues are playing out as a couple of unexpected aspirants are jostling with the Distinguished Senator .
Leading the pack is ,Hon B. Oyebanji, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) , Hon. Faparusi, Cimmissioner for Public Utility.
These State Cabinet members have since resigned from the JKF administration, though insider information persists that the incumbent Governor may be backing either of the two. Other aspirants include serving members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Bamidele , Hon. Yeni Aderantan and Engr. Kayode Ojo.
As the saying goes , it is not an easy head that put on the golden crown , the beauty of popular democracy is the contestation for power. Despite all these huddles before Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele , it is expected that he asserts his Democratic credentials through popular majority votes at both the APC Primaries and the Governorship elections in June ,2022.
