Progressive Politicians Regroup as Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Marks 60th Birthday

Gbenga Sodeinde writes about the week-long programme put together last week in Abuja, Lagos and Ado-Ekiti to mark the 60th birthday of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, celebrated his 60th birthday on July 23, 2023. The fact that he is fast emerging as a politician with potent whims in Nigeria makes the celebration so unique in many ways.

That necessitated the reason why the event radiated so much panache, pageantry, and elegance due to the impressive local and national traction the celebrant’s political exploits is currently garnering.

The groundswell of tributes that were rolled out to compliment his contributions to national growth, buttressed how towering his stature has become in national politics.

The deluge of congratulatory messages from ebullient  personalities like President Bola Tinubu; President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Governor of his home state, Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, colleagues in the Senate, members of the diplomatic corps, spiritual fathers and admirers, vividly showed the power and connections Senator Bamidele wields in contemporary Nigeria.

Little wonder, the synopsis of glamorous event, which began with a book-launch in Abuja, to the Marathon Praise and Worship Service in Ekiti and thanksgiving in Lagos, attracted the high and mighty from the  political, spiritual, diplomatic and  musical spaces to celebrate a man, whose life’s trajectory epitomises trust, loyalty, kindness, generosity and service to God and humanity.

The celebration, according to the senator,  was of premium interest to him in diverse fronts. One, it was an opportunity to give glory to God for sparing him from the throes of death. The traumatising event of June 1, 2018, when he was hit by stray bullets during a political adventure remains indelible in his memory and heart.

It was a trepidating occurrence that nearly threw Ekiti into turmoil. Still standing energetic, strong and tall among the humans aroused that inspiration in him to give glory to God. And this he did perfectly by the array of musicians that gathered at the palatial Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre to render unbroken 24 hours of praises and worship to God.

Secondly, it was a propitious pedestal for him to give accounts of stewardship to his people in Ekiti Central Senatorial District. With the way he spoke at the event, Senator Bamidele was thankful to his constituents for electing him as a member of the Senate. He held the view that the gesture was a springboard for the assumption of his current status as the Senate Leader, a position fondly venerated as one of the lifewires of the country’s federal legislature.

Most significantly, the ranking Senator perceived the celebration as a leeway for him to keep his constituents abreast of the national politics, especially defending the administration of President  Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio-led Senate.

Politics:

The presence of the creme-dela -creme from the political class of diferent inclinations and ideologies at the event indicated that it was a momentous occasion for the regrouping of the progressive forces. President Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, governors and top-rated political bigwigs, were at hand to make the event more momentous. Members of the Senate across political divides, also shed the toga of extremism and division to rally round a man, whose tentacles had spread across Nigeria as a politician, lawyer and student activist.

Speaking at the events held at different dates in Abuja, Ado Ekiti and Lagos, the Senate Leader didn’t mince words by his open and stout defence of President Tinubu’s government over the fuel subsidy removal and the choice of ministerial nominees he had presented for screening at the Senate.

The Senator assured Nigerians that the Senate will be thorough with the screening of the ministerial nominees presented by the President Tinubu. Bamidele added that the Senate will scrutinise the ministers thoroughly to ascertain their competences and capabilities to serve Nigeria diligently and in such a way that will bring dividends of democracy to the populace .

In a fashion that evokes passion, the lawmaker, said Senator Akpabio-led Senate was desirous and  keen about ensuring that those holding pivotal positions under Tinubu’s presidency are those with capacities to deliver.

His words: “Let me assure Nigerians that the screening won’t be only bow and go, except for those who had been members of the National Assembly before and whom we knew and appreciated that they have the wherewithal to give Nigerians qualitative leadership.

“Nigerians expected us to be thorough. They are expecting us to do a thorough screening. But take a bow and go is not an  unparliamentary convention, it has become a practice all over the world and that person must be a former member of the parliament who is well known to us. Somebody we have confidence in his ability. We are going to follow the constitution to ensure that we deliver our mandate to make those who voted for us happy. This will occur at the level of parliament, oversight functions and at the committee level.

“We will partner Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to deliver on his promises to Nigerians. We are determined to ensure that all the three arms of government, particularly the judiciary are put on a good footing to be able to deliver justice without fear or favour. We are determined to ensure that  the right people are brought on board”.

On the hoopla around the abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy, which some Nigerians regarded as bruising, painful and agonising, Bamidele assured that  the federal government will soon roll out social investment programmes to palliate the sufferings of the  masses.

According to him: “The federal government will put palliatives in place to help the poorest of the poor . There is also another category of palliatives that will be rolled  out for the civil servants apart from the promised salary increment that will be done across states and at the federal level.

“The removal is very significant because the FG will be able to save a lot of money to do infrastructure and make all Nigerians happy. That was the intention of President Tinubu about the removal. He knew what Nigerians are passing through and efforts are underway to cushion the effects of this removal”.

Spiritual dimension:

With this event, something spiritually strange happened in Ekiti with the staging of a programme christened: ‘24 Hours Marathon Praise and Worship Service’ beginning from 7am on Friday, July 28 to 7am of  Saturday,July 29, which was the D-Day.

Top-rated  gospel singers that participated in the carnival-like event included Tope Alabi, Yinka Alaseyori, Aduke Gold, Esther Igbekele, BJ Sax and over 20 high-flying others.

Bamidele’s teeming and cult-like supporters across the state and members of the All Progressives Congress, led by Governor Oyebanji, his wife, Olayemi, the APC State Chairman, Paul Omotoso, among others, defied the regular downpour and the seemingly intolerable humid and freezy atmospheric condition of that day to participate in the programme.

The praises didn’t stop at that, another  thanksgiving service was held at the Babanboni Anglican Church, Iyin Ekiti on Saturday, July 29. Bamidele in company of his wife, Yemisi, in open display of outpouring of praises appreciated God for sparing his life to celebrate 60th birthday.

He described the gesture as uncommon favour , having a retrospect of what he passed through in his tortuous and bumpy political journeys.

He recalled how God like the biblical Joseph favoured him for political positions through Tinubu’s instrumentality in Lagos despite being from Ekiti. He remembered with nostalgic feelings how he got reelected as a member of the House of Representatives and now a two term member of the Senate. He believed all these were made possible by divine providence.

In an emotion laden tone, he recalled how God rescued him from the verge of death on June 1, 2018. He succinctly described the date as his worst political experience, he explained how his stomach was rideled with bullets in the middle of the crowd during an accidental shooting within the precinct of the APC Secretariat in Ado Ekiti. It was a time he served as the Director General spearheading the second term campign of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s gubernatorial tussle.

He said: “I thank God for my life. I saw death face to face, but God rescued me. If I had a better opportunity to thank God more than this, I will surely do. He delivered me by divine miracle. He is a marvelous moving God”.

In his short exhortation tagged “out of your faithfulness” at the ceremony, the Vicar in charge of the  All Saints’ Anglican Church, Iyin Ekiti, Ven Zaccheus Ibitoye, described  Bamidele’s Marathon Praise service as the first of its kind in Ekiti. The cleric branded the politician as a robustly unique, dependable and decent politician, who loathes politics of bitterness and do- or -die.

The man of God also veered off the spiritual radar to discuss some of the policies that had been undertaken under Tinubu’s presidency. He assured  that Nigerians will render good stories in the end despite the removal of the fuel subsidy by Tinubu’s administration.

“Let us be patient and pray for our leaders.

All the presidential candidates promised that they will remove the petrol subsidy and one of them won and removed it. We should all be expecting it. Let us be patient with the federal government. We will have a good story to tell for our coming children. This stage and difficulties shall pass away”.

The Vicar added that Bamidele enjoyed tremendous favour from God because he had  served humanity in the most rewarding fashion as a Commissioner and member of the National Assembly.

“We could all remember when he was shot few years back, whether through targeted or strayed bullet, but God protected him. He didn’t die because God proclaimed that it wasn’t yet time. I am happy for your life. Senator Bamidele is a special breed of politician, who will not pledge what he will not do. I want to charge you to continue to hang your faith in God. He has been protecting you. You are still going higher and higher, you are unstoppable.

“I plead with politicians to play this politics neatly. Some of you used to eliminate people because of ambition. Senator Bamidele doesn’t belong to that group. He is a decent politician. Let us learn how to wait upon God. All of us can’t be Senators or Governors, but we can all be children of God”.

Account of Stewardship:

At the thanksgiving in Iyin Ekiti, Bamidele, to the consternation of the congregation that gathered at the Babanboni Anglican Church revealed that he had empowered over  20,000 members among his constituents in the last four years as a federal lawmaker. The Senator added that the beneficiaries spread across various strata including widows, unemployed youths, and poverty-stricken people.

He said he had given jobs to over 100 graduates and empowered countless of Ekiti citizens with skills ranging from  poultry, piggery, baking, confectionaries and soap making. The federal lawmaker stressed that  these were conceptualised to reduce poverty in his Senatorial district.

According to him: “I have also attracted a university of medical science to Iyin Ekiti and the Law school to Ilawe Ekiti. The FG  will soon begin work on them. If you go round the Ekiti Central Senatorial district, I have sunk boreholes to supply potable water to our people across the five councils in the area. This has reduced water scarcity, boost access to good water and reduced incidences of water borne diseases.

“During my time as a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015, representing Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, I attracted 89 projects like Libraries, health centres, ICT centres, among others to my constituency. I have never disappointed my people and I remain steadfast with this philosophy”.

Trust Building Exploit:

The event further reinforced the strength of the political cord between Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the Senate leader. Despite his busy and arduous schedules, Governor Oyebanji exhibited enormous respect for the politician by attending all the programmes held in Abuja, Ekiti and Lagos in Bamidele’s honour.

It was a trust building event for the two highly influential politicians, who command large followership in Ekiti. The governor’s actions had helped in dispelling the scurrilous  impression and invidious thinking in some quarters that Bamidele was warning up for governorship in 2026, when Oyebanji is expected to fly his second term bid.

At the occasion of Governor Oyebanji’s father, Pa Olukunle Ezekiel Oyebanji’s birthday at Ikogosi Ekiti a fortnight ago, the duo openly confessed their strong political ties.

Oyebanji at the occasion said: “The two of us are first and foremost friends and brothers, we believe in God as the sole determinant of the future and we are also highly experienced politicians, who have committed our political future in the hands of God. So, stop speculating about any war between us.

“God is the Alpha and Omega of human beings, He does things at His own will. God is the decider of our fate. I want to tell you clearly that nothing can separate me from Senator Bamidele. We have built a strong relationship over the years, so politics can’t separate us”.  

Also speaking at the event, Senator Bamidele, said the good deeds Pa Oyebanji inculcated in his children reflected in Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable performance as Governor of the state, a development he said had raised his political rating and would make him spend eight years as a governor.

“As God liveth, Baba will still live longer to reap the fruits of his labour. I appreciate the Governor for standing by me to be Senate Leader. His support was strong and solid.

He did this because he had imbibed the culture of Omoluabi and love for Ekiti from his father.

“I will make sure that I join Governor Oyebanji to improve the wellbeing of Ekiti in terms of road construction and facilitating federal  projects to Ekiti. This is what we owe Ekiti and we shall achieve it”.

The duo had been able to confess by actions and deeds that they are trusted allies and that the future looks good for them.

Self Rededication:

The senator at all the events sounded reassuring in his avowed resolution to partner all the critical stakeholders in the project Nigeria to rescue the people from their parlous conditions. Bamidele said he won’t deploy his closeness to President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and Governor Oyebanji for personal aggrandizement, but for the good of the generality of the people.

“In my Senatorial district alone, a total of N2 billion was budgeted in the 2023 appropriation law  for the rehabilitation of federal roads to make them motorable and reduce hardship on them. I am passionate about bringing federal presence to my people. I am committed about  giving my people the deserved dividends of democracy; that is the essence of leadership.

“I had taken stock of the quantum of works I had been able to do in my first term as a Senator. I know that I will do more for my people now that I am occupying a more respectable and influential position in the Senate”.