Member of the Federal House of Representatives and current contender for the Ekiti State governorship seat, Opeyemi Bamidele may have bitten more than he could chew by publicly disobeying and disregarding the agreement reached by his party to endorse incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, for a second term in office.
Bamidele, who thinks this is a slight to his ambition, has vehemently rebuffed the party’s decision, making it known that he must contest the election, which holds next year. But sources within the party have confirmed to Huhuonline.com that he may be eased out of the party if he fails to soft-pedal.
One of the sources disclosed that the top hierarchy of the party is currently studying his statement, in which he declared that “nobody” can stop him from contesting the election.
Bamidele is also aware of this fact, as he has hinted of some nocturnal plots to send him and his supporters away from the party, further giving the hint that he could also pursue his ambition through other platforms.
The lawmaker, who once served Lagos State as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, had declared his intention to contest the governorship election several months ago, despite his knowledge that Fayemi was only in his first term and could seek for re-election. This political tussle polarised the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti State.
For fear that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already latching into the crisis to create a formidable force ahead of the election, leaders of the ACN such as National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande met days ago and endorsed the governor for continuation.
A source at that meeting confirmed to our reporter on Monday that there was a debate which ended in favour of Governor Fayemi.
“It was a unanimous decision,” the source, a top party official in Lagos, said.
“But we are surprised that Bamidele has refused to heed to the party, which should be supreme. He has become very desperate and at this stage, he could be eased off if he is not careful.”
It was learnt that prior to the meeting, some chieftains of the party, including the party’s spokesman, Lai Mohammed made several efforts to resolve the issues between the duo to no avail. Days before the last meeting held last week, an invitation was sent to Bamidele but he refused to show up at the meeting where it was decided that Fayemi should be given another opportunity.
However, Hon. Bamidele denied receiving the invitation prior to the meeting. He said the letter got to him a day after the meeting was held. The House of Representatives member rejected the decision, saying it smacks of selfish interests.
In a statement he personally released in Ado Ekiti yesterday, he said Governor Fayemi was never endorsed even though Tinubu and Lai Mohammed had confirmed the endorsement.
“I have read in some of the Nigerian dailies the purported report of what transpired at the July 3, 2013, Ado Ekiti meeting of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and I find it difficult to reconcile the reports with the contents and actual proceedings at the said meeting, just like many other leaders of the party who were personally in attendance at the meeting.
“Surely, I am amazed and disappointed that a sincere attempt by leaders of the ACN to resolve the lingering crisis that had existed within the party in Ekiti was mismanaged by some selfish elements who twisted the good faith call by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on party leaders and members in Ekiti to find an amicable manner of resolving the said crisis, including a call on the leadership of the party to immediately reinstate all the ward and local government structures of the party that had been arbitrarily dissolved without congresses and in violation of the party’s constitution. It was an indoor meeting where party leaders freely spoke their mind.
“Unfortunately, those who are bent on straining my cordial relationship with the leadership of the party went out of the meeting to give a twisted version of the well-intended advice of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insinuating that Asiwaju had endorsed Governor Kayode Fayemi for second term and ‘warning’ me to abandon my ambition.
“I am stating unequivocally that by the grace of God and the encouragement of the well-meaning people of Ekiti State, I, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, will be contesting election to be Governor of Ekiti State come year 2014. It is an irrevocable conclusion based on popular yearnings as well as my personal conviction and commitment to human capital development and the creation of a new and united Ekiti.
He assured that no one could come between him and Tinubu, who gave him the opportunity to serve Lagos State for 11 years. “Having worked as one of his committed and trusted leg boys to actualise his dream of creating a new Lagos, I am sure Asiwaju will not begrudge me on my ambition to work with other well-meaning Ekiti sons and daughters to take Ekiti to the next level
“…Nobody can stop me from contesting the governorship election. I cannot fight with Tinubu just like it is not compulsory that we should agree on everything at all times.
“It is a personal decision for which I am willing to take responsibility, God being my strength. This deliberate mismanagement of information, no doubt, is in furtherance of the series of attempts to push me and my supporters out of the ACN, forgetting that even if they had succeeded in doing that, it still would not deter me from pursuing my vision and ambition on other progressive party platforms based on divine guidance and the leading of Ekiti stakeholders home and abroad.
“I have an aspiration to be Governor, which is narrow and personal to me. But I have an ambition, which is broader than my personal aspiration and it is this ambition to see a new and better Ekiti in place that actually unites me with Ekiti people regardless of political, religious, social or cultural divides.”
Those sympathetic to Bamidele recalled to Huhuonline.com how he was dropped from his ambition to contest for the Senate in the last election for Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
“This man has sacrificed for the party. In the last election, he was asked to step down from his senatorial ambition and he agreed and went to the House of Representatives. I think it is just right that he be allowed to further his ambition this time,” a party member close to Bamidele explained.
The fear in the Bamidele’s camp, according to another source, is that now that they have endorsed Fayemi for another term of four years, Bamidele’s political relevance may have waned by the time the governor completes his term.
However, those opposed to him gave a pass mark to Governor Fayemi, saying he deserves a second term. One of such party chieftains is Lai Mohammed who confirmed that the party truly endorsed the governor for his positive strides so far. Those close to Fayemi also consider his role for the entrenchment of democracy in the country. They believe he should reap from his labour especially as he had not been a failure since he was elected.
“The truth is that no one person can be bigger than a party. If Bamidele should be eased out today, where would he go? Is it the PDP?” a top party member said, adding that the party would continue to make attempts to sooth frail nerves.
“But Bamidele should realise, in the midst of this stubbornness, that no one person can be bigger that a party. It was a collective decision to allow Fayemi for a second term. He should not allow the party turn its back on him.”
The PDP had intervened in wake of the crisis, warning Tinubu to desist from his alleged dictatorial tendencies in Ekiti State politics. The ACN also reacted, asking the PDP to mind its business.
In the latest reaction by Tinubu through his media aide, Sunday Dare, he stated that he would continue to support and endorse good causes around the country just like he endorsed Fayemi.
The statement said Tinubu was not a brick or a piece of wood, but a Nigerian citizen who could tell what is good from what is bad. It stated that the former Lagos State Governor “has the perfect right to express his opinion on political matters and to endorse who he may endorse for the position of the ACN nominee for the Ekiti governorship.
“In due course, Asiwaju will surely endorse who he would for other elective positions across the country in full exercise of his fundamental right. I predict Okeke (the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ekiti) will get acute indigestion from that act as well…Okeke shows his ignorance that the Nigerian constitution has enshrined freedom of speech as a fundamental right of all Nigerians, even us in the opposition.”
The statement confirmed that Tinubu openly endorsed Fayemi for another term, saying anyone not satisfied with the decision has the right to disagree or even contest against Fayemi when the time comes.
