match-up of the intellectually gravitating Dr. Kayode Fayemi
and the grassroots mobiliser and lawyer, Rep. Opeyemi
Bamidele should have been in the realm of the academia.
Before his advent into the political terrain, Governor Fayemi
had distinguished himself in civil rights advocacy within and
outside the continent. His wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi was also,
no less a successful activist in Africa.
Mutual friends of Fayemi and Bamidele say that the
relationship between the two was itself, also tied to Bisi, who
before marriage formed a convival bond with the two men
before a more permanent marital bond with Kayode was
created.
The friends also say that Fayemi ascension to the
governorship of Ekiti State was greatly facilitated by
Bamidele who at the time of the nomination for the 2007
gubernatorial contest, was an integral factor in the Bola
Tinubu political machine in Lagos.
But how the duo of Fayemi and Bamidele fell out remains a
matter of conjecture which both men have so far refused to
divulge.
Suggestions that Fayemi has taken his advocacy to the Ekiti
landscape is, however, not in doubt given his landmark
projects all around the state. Roads, abandoned tourist
locations and social welfare policies adopted by the governor
indeed have raised the stakes.
But not everyone in the state that is littered with eggheads is
satisfied with what Fayemi has done or his style on ground.
Bamidele who was elected to the House of Representatives
after stepping down from the Senate contest that was bestirred
by much rancour has been at the head of the criticisms. Even
more than the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP Bamidele as a member of the then Action
Congress of Nigeria, ACN was at the vanguard of the crusade
against what he claimed the underachievement of the Fayemi
administration.
That was the beginning of what many saw as a titanic battle.
However, what many supposed would be a battle of brains
between the two, inevitably turned bloody when Bamidele
formally made a declaration to contest the gubernatorial
election against Fayemi early last month.
Foluso Ogundare one of Bamidele's supporters was shot dead
while another supporter, Madam Beatrice Ige survived to tell
her story.
That was not the first physical skirmish that Bamidele would
suffer and blame Governor Fayemi for. Last April he was
attacked in Igede Ekiti on Friday, 12th April, 2013 during a
mobilization visit to the area.
Given the inclination of the political establishment towards a
second term for the incumbent governor, it was not lost on
Bamidele, his associates and observers that the APC would
not accommodate his aspiration.
It was therefore not surprising that the legislator last Sunday
revealed that he would be joining the Labour Party.
The decision may have come as a surprise to many, but
definitely not to many leaders of the APC who had been
predicting the move.
Giving his reason in a press statement last Sunday, the
lawmaker said:
"Must we continue to wrestle for justice within the same boat
where injustice has become institutionalized by those who, in
spite of what they preach, have consistently demonstrated
extreme allergy to internal democracy? Clearly, our answer is
NO."
His declaration for Labour Party is, however, bound to elicit
strong reaction from the political establishment, especially his
political leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is even
believed to be more provoking, given the choice of Labour
Party, which Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State is said to
be using to undermine the APC in the Southwest.
Mimiko was re-elected last year for a second term after a
bruising challenge from the APC spearheaded by Tinubu.
Following his success and the alleged alliance between
Mimiko and the PDP administration at the centre, it was
claimed that Mimiko had become the linchpin to be used
against Tinubu's hold on the Southwest. Ekiti and Osun which
hold gubernatorial elections next year, it is assumed, are to be
the test grounds for Mimiko's outreach.
By teaming up with Tinubu's arch foe in the Southwest,
Bamidele who served as special adviser and commissioner in
Lagos State for twelve years under the patronage of Tinubu
may have broken the cord between the two men.His exit from
the APC has nevertheless been welcomed by the party in the
state which obviously must have been relieved.
Responding to Bamidele's announcement almost immediately
he made it, Segun Dipe, the director of publicity of the state
chapter of the APC, said:
"Opeyemi Bamidele's declaration of his governorship
ambition today in Emure and on the platform of Labour Party
is a welcome development. This is democracy and it is about
free entry, free exit."
While welcoming the move, Mr. Dipe nevertheless jabbed:
"Why declaring at Emure at a time the dead is still being
mourned in the town? Our people can see how he is now
dancing on the death of our citizen in Ekiti.
"Governor Kayode Fayemi had to postpone his trip to Emure
in reverence of the dead. Why can't Opeyemi allow the dead
– victim of a recent violence in the town- to be buried before
going there to play politics? This confirms our position that he
actually masterminded the crisis and fatality in the town for
his selfish interest."
Giving vent to the alleged alliance with Governor Mimiko, the
APC rounded up thus:
"More so, since his ambition was concocted in Akure and his
supporters are there, would it not have been better he declared
there?"
That indeed is an indication of the interesting time for
stakeholders and observers ahead of the promising
gubernatorial contest in Ekiti State.
Via: Vanguard
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