2022: Bamidele declares for Ekiti guber race
… Says he has secured 79 Federal appointments, empowered 4,000
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (alias MOB) has formally notified his party about his intention to run for the Governorship election in 2022.
Senator Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters who stormed the Ajilosun state Secretariat of the party said he was prepared to run a peaceful and scientific campaign urging the party leaders to give level playing ground to all contenders.
The Governorship aspirant also used the opportunity to inaugurate his Constituency Office .
Accompanied by his teaming supporters and political associates, the senator who almost lost his life on June 1, 2018 at a similar political rally said God Almighty had saved his life to serve humanity.
He expressed confidence that Governor Kayode Fayemi won’t impose candidate during the 2022 primary of the All Progressives Congress.
Bamidele described himself as the best to govern Ekiti in view of his experiences in public service that spanned over 30 years and cut across the executive , legislative and judicial strata.
Addressing the party leaders, Bamidele, said his superlative contributions in the Senate included his being instrumental to the passage of a bill for the establishment of a Medical Science University and a branch of Law School in the State, saying these were well amplified testimonials to his competence to lead Ekiti.
Cataloguing his achievements as a Senator, Bamidele revealed that he had secured employments for 79 citizens of Ekiti as a Senator and had empowered over 4,000 persons in his Senatorial district, including physically challenged.
Speaking about why he decided to plunge into the race, Bamidele said: “We will strive hard to ensure that we don’t create crisis for APC. I am particularly happy that the party had not endorsed anybody or is under any instruction to impose anybody. I know that Governor Kayode Fayemi won’t do anything that will scatter the party as a leader, I am confident that this will not happen.
“The January 22 primary is not the ultimate but how to win the June 18 election. I am convinced that the Chairman is a gentleman, I have known some of you for a long time as men of integrity.
“I am comfortable with the leadership and our Governor. I know that the Governor can’t impose neither me nor anyone,for the sake of our party. I won’t be a politician that will terrify Ekiti, I will rather work for its comfort.
“We can’t fight because of party primary. This is a family affair. I won’t do anything that will cause tension in Ekiti and APC. Only one person will be candidate and we should all work together and claim the victory together.
“I am not the only one that is qualified to be Governor, but I have qualities that can make me outstanding Governor. There are three arms of Government, Judiciary, executive and legislature. In the Judiciary, I belong to the body of benchers, the highest decision making body in the sector . As the Chairman of the committee on Judiciary in the Senate, we superintend over all Federal Courts and other judicial institutions in this country.
“Again, I was a member of the State executive Council as commissioner in Lagos under two governors for 11 years. I had been member of House of Representatives and now a Senator. So, I have experiences in the judiciary, executive and legislative arms.”
Urging the party to give him the ticket and win easily, Bamidele said: “Ekiti people are ready to vote for me, they are waiting for me already. And if APC refuses to give me, I won’t get these ready votes . So , APC must give the ticket to a popular person one who can win election easily.
“When I was in the House of Representatives, I was coming home on weekly basis, and that gave some people opportunity to cause trouble between myself and my friend and confidant, Dr Kayode Fayemi. But we have agreed not to fight again and that will never happen.
That was why I have decided to stay away from Ekiti, because I don’t want to heat up the system that can cause crisis.”
Reminiscing on the shooting of December 1, 2018, when he was shot as Director General of Kayode Fayemi re-election campaign organisation at the party Secretariat, Bamidele said: “I believed that I have been saved by God to serve Ekiti people . I was saved for the sake of this time.
“Let me also say that I have nobody to fight If anybody wants to fight me over this governorship, tell them I am not ready for any fight.
“If you give me the ticket, I will make you proud as a Governor, I will even make you proud in my scientific campaign and how best to handle the party and give them respect that they deserve.”
The APC State Chairman, Hon Paul Omotoso, who spoke on behalf of the SWC, described Bamidele as a respectable individual, assuring that the party will not impose any aspirant in the coming primary.
The APC State Chairman added that what the party stands for is equity ,justice and fair play and that nothing will change this.
