Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
As the race for the January 22 governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State gathers steam, a political body under the acronym ‘Coalition of Youth Support Group ‘, has endorsed Senator representing Ekiti Central in the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, for governor.
The group, which passed a vote of confidence on Bamidele during his consultation tour to Emure, Ilejemeje and Moba Local governments, described the Chairman, Southern Senators Forum, as the most experienced and competent APC aspirant to fly the party’s ticket for the forthcoming poll.
The coalition’s Coordinators in the councils, Ajiboye Boboye and Aina Folajimi, appealed to APC youth across the state to back Bamidele’s aspiration, branding him as the best for the state among the aspirants parading themselves for the coveted seat.
Boboye, who described the senator as a loyal party chieftain, said: “For the continuity agenda of Governor Kayode Fayemi to continue, Senator Bamidele remains the best man to sustain this legacy. Any disconnection may affect the development focus of our dear state.
“With his experience spanning over 30 years across executive, legislative and judiciary strata, we believe that he has the experience , the exposure and right connections to take Ekiti to a higher pedestal banking on what Governor Fayemi has done as a springboard.”
In all the council visited to seek the party’s support, the frontline governorship aspirant, disclosed that God has anointed him to turn around the fortunes of the state if accorded the leeway to occupy the governorship seat.
Bamidele promised that youth employment, human and infrastructure development, commercial agriculture, free and compulsory basic education, tourism development , robust healthcare delivery and reformed civil service will be the kernel and policy thrust of his administration.
“I am here to appeal for your votes, am telling you that the anointing of God is upon me that will turn the state around in which elders, men, women, youths and children will experience dividends of democracy. I have seen a lot in life. I understand how the common man feels on the streets because I have been in their condition before.”
He debunked the widespread claim that Governor Kayode Fayemi has endorsed one of the aspirants, saying : “If they are deceiving you, don’t deceive yourself . The governor has not endorsed anybody. I have right to drop the governor’s name, because I have been his friend for 40 years, but I won’t tarnish his good name by making him look as if he wants to impose me . I am here to appeal for your votes and I won’t disappoint if given”.
On the hoopla and contentions surrounding his claim that he funded the party when the party lost control of Ekiti in 2003 till Fayemi mounted the saddle of governance in 2010, Bamidele restated: “Myself alongside some other leaders were responsible for the sustenance of our party from May 29th, 2003 when our leader, Otunba Niyi Adebayo left office till 16th October, 2010. The records were there.
“It was also in the course of my service to our great party as the Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation that the shooting incident of 1st June, 2018 happened to me. But we thank God for saving my life to survive the fiery occurrence.
“Between 2000 and 2002, I served as the National Director of Publicity of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and have also deployed my God-given talents, professional skills and wealth of experience in the service of our dear party from AD to AC, ACN and APC.
“As a thorough-bred party chieftain and grassroots mobilizer, I know how to take good care of our party, our leaders, stalwarts and teeming members and this shall not be at the detriment of Ekiti people’s growth and development.
“Ekiti people are waiting to vote for me; what I need is the ticket of our dear party to coast home to victory as APC Governorship Candidate in June 2022.”
Bamidele said :” Our party must remain united and be careful about what we say about each other because of primary election, at the end of the day, opposition parties will be waiting to catch-in on that.
“It is important for us to run a campaign that is scientific, a campaign that is violence free, a campagn that is driven by issues and promises that we will be able to fulfill, most importantly victory of our party should be our focus.”
He, therefore, appealed to the leadership of the party both at the national and the State levels to create a level playing ground for all aspirants in the State because the outcome of the primary election would determine the performance and chances of the party in its quest to win the Governorship election slated for June 18, 2021.
Bamidele submitted that the Ekiti people were waiting for him to massively vote for him as Governor of the State, adding that none of the other Governorship aspirants had the kind of experience, he had acquired in governance because he served in all three arms of government in which he performed excellently.
