Bamidele Gets Rousing Reception



 

Supporters of Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) jubilating upon his arrival at Itawure a border town of Ekiti



Supporters at Itawure

Bamidele triumphant entry into Erio - Ekiti

Bamidele's jeep surrounded by youths at Igede, Ekiti 

Procession for Opeyemi Bamidele at Igede Ekiti

Opeyemi Bamidele talking to one of the supporters in Iyin Ekiti

Procession in Ado - Ekiti

Supporters in Ado - Ekiti

Procession in Ado - Ekiti

L-R: Prince Omowunmi Adebayo, Central Working Committtee member, ACN, Ekiti; Opeyemi Bamidele, former Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Lagos and House of Representative Candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 and Chief Jide Ajayi, Chairman, Ekiti Central senatorial district at reception organised for him in Ado - Ekiti on Monday

Photos and story by Femi Malik

14 days after his retirement from the Cabinet of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos returned to Ado – Ekiti, Ekiti to a tumultuous reception organised for him by party members and supporters.

Bamidele, the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 candidate was received by a procession of supporters at Itawure, a border town of Ekiti State and Osun State. Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, clad in white agbada and accompanied by friends was received by hundreds of supporters led by Chief Jide Ajayi, the Chairman of Ekiti Central senatorial district.

The group, now in convoy, moved through Erio, Igede, Iyin towns to Ado – Ekiti, the State capital. Bamidele was at the entrance of these towns welcomed by more supporters, who joined his convoy to Ado – Ekiti.

At Ado – Ekiti, he was led by supporters from Iyin Road through Ikere Road, Old Garage road, Ewi Palace to Ajilosun. The team later converged at the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) campaign office, where he was billed to address party elders and supporters.

In his first public speech after the Ekiti Central Senatorial District crisis, Bamidele thanked his supporters for voting massively for him, and that he has left everything in the hands of God. He stated that he accepted to contest the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency seat for the unity of the party in the State.

He affirmed that he won the Ekiti Central Senatorial district primary by 19 wards to his closest rival, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu’s  7 wards. He added that he has put the entire episode behind him and implored his supporters to do the same. He urged them to equally support the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State.

He stressed that all the ACN Governors, party leaders including those who personally raised him politically have spoken to him to accept the House of Representative ticket offered him by the party and he had thus accepted and agreed to run for the House of Representative, Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1.

While urging party members to eschew do or die politics, the former commissioner maintained, ‘I bear no grudge against anyone. Let us work together so that we can build an institution and a better society”.

Bamidele, however, promised the people of the State that he would not renege on his initial promises that he would donate his salaries and the constituency allowance to assist the people when voted in as legislator.

It would be recalled that Bamidele was said to have won the party primaries to the Senate before, according to Mr Femi Ojudu, another aspirant complained to Governor Kayode Fayemi that there were violence in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, which prompted the governor to summon and order the State Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe to annul the results.   

Ojudu, who was said to be the favourite of the Governor, was eventually given the senatorial ticket and Bamidele was the given House of Representatives ticket for Ekiti federal Constituency 1.