aeonplus: Bamidele Gets Rousing Reception

aeonplus: Bamidele Gets Rousing Reception: "Watch videos of Opeyemi Bamidele's Rousing Reception"

Bamidele Gets Rousing Reception

Watch videos of Opeyemi Bamidele's Rousing Reception

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.

Lagos Pledges Improved Service Delivery

Photo and story by Femi Malik

Lagos State Government has attributed the success of the present administration to its strong commitment to serving the people of the State.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye disclosed on Saturday during the State Environmental Sanitation Inspection Tour of Oriade Local Community Development Area.

Agunsoye emphasized that the successes recorded by the administration of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was based on the resolve of the Government to make people oriented policies and programmes its focus.

He noted that the administration has been serving the people and would keep listening to the wishes and aspirations of Lagosians. He added that the inspection tour was a platform for the assessment of the electoral promises the Governor made at the inception of his administration.

He reminded the residents of Ade – Oshodi and Abule Osun communities to continue to pay their taxes, noting that, Government would send an evaluation team to assess the level of what is to be done in their communities.

He advised the people to desist from throwing refuse in drainages, as this constitutes not only an eye sore but environmental nuisance, which if unchecked can cause an outbreak of epidemic.

Welcoming the team to the Local Government Development Area, the Chairman of the Council, Honourable Sanusi Ibrahim assured the communities that the state Government will take necessary steps to improve on the infrastructures in the area.



Bamidele Bows out of Lagos Cabinet

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele has resigned from the cabinet of the Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola led administration.

Bamidele whose resignation took effect on Monday 14 February, 2011 was described by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) as a hero and an achiever.

At the valedictory executive session held for him, Fashola while accepting Bamidele’s resignation described him as a man of proven integrity who lived above board in the discharge of his duties as the State’s information manager.

According to the Governor, Bamidele’s legacy as Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development as well as Information and Strategy at different times, would remain indelible.

He added that his visions, ideas and views on issues of development contributed largely to the transformation that had taken place in the state.

Fashola also stressed on Bamidele’s contribution to the establishment of the State Archive  Bureau adding that he also contributed immensely to the setting up of a traffic radio, which will send information on traffic across the State.

It would be recalled that Bamidele contested for Ekiti Central Senatorial seat primary with his predecessor, Mr. Dele Alake, the incumbent Senator Bola Ola and Managing Director of The News magazine, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu. Although the primary was inconclusive, Bamidele was leading by 19 wards to his closest rival’s 7 wards.

However, it was alleged that few leaders of the party conspired against Opeyemi Bamidele and awarded the senate ticket to Obafemi Ojudu while Bamidele was given House of Representative ticket, an offer which he turned down.

WAEC: Lagos Lauds Teachers, Parents

Lagos State Government has commended teachers and parents for joining hands with Government towards ensuring continued improvement in the standard of education as reflected in the recently released results of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed this today in his office while briefing news men.

Making a comparative performance analysis of public school candidates in May/June West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) between 2007 to 2010, Bamidele averred that more candidates passed English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects at a sitting in year 2010 than previous years.

He stated that out of the 60,694 candidates who sat for the May/June 2010 WASSCE, 12, 818 candidates had a minimum of 5 credits including English Language and Mathematics; 15,818 candidates had 5 credits with Mathematics only; 17,061 candidates had 5 credits with English Language only, 368 candidates had 4 credits with English Language; and Mathematics, 20,014 candidates had 4 credits with English Language or Mathematics; 6,823 candidates had 3 credits with English Language and Mathematics.

With the results, Bamidele noted that if English Language is considered singly, the State recorded an improvement from 41.25% in 2009 to 77.57% in 2010, and considering Mathematics singly, the State moved from 22.48% in 2009 to 75.62% in 2010.  

The Commissioner also revealed that in 2009, out of the 62,097 candidates, 25,615 had credit in English Language while 13,958 had credit in Mathematics. In 2008, out of 65,699 candidates, 15,390 had credit in English Language and 16,229 scored credit in Mathematics while in 2007, 12, 157 candidates had credit in English Language and  12,076 candidates got credit in Mathematics out of 67,020 candidates that sat for the examination.

Bamidele attributed the improvement in the year 2010 results partly to the distribution of free textbooks in major subjects by the State Government as well as the provision of incentives to teachers.

He added that Government would further make the teaching environment more conducive, noting that no price could be too high to ensure quality and sound education as the only way of securing the future of our youth and, by implication, of the nation.