As Ekiti Central People Honours Senate Leader

Gbenga Sodeinde writes about the well deserved reception organised recently in Iyin Ekiti for the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele by his constituents in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

t could best be described as heroic and presidential honour, when Iyin Ekiti community was animated on Thursday, 27th March, 2025, as drums were rolled out at a reception held for one of their illustrious sons, the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the Senate and Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.

Putting it succinctly and aptly, it was an occasion akin to a prophet getting deserving honour in his domain.

An inquisitive person would want to ask the reason for such a grandiose honour and veneration. According to Bamidele’s kinsmen, the ranking Senator, was being honoured because of his impactful contributions to the community, Ekiti State and Nigeria in general. They branded him as an enigma and illustrious son, who has made indelible footprints in the sands of time.

The reception was championed by Iyin Ekiti elites and locals, including eggheads from the academia, business world, civil servants, local hunters, artisans, traditional and political leaders from diverse inclinations to appreciate him. The occasion was laced with fanfare and commendations.

Justifying the initiative, the community explained that the lawmaker has brought a lot of infrastructural developments to the town, the latest being the establishment by the Federal Government of a new Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences for Iyin Ekiti community which he spearheaded.

According to those who spoke with THISDAY,  the event was also to acknowledge the leadership traits possessed by the Senate Leader, which lent credence to being a true son of the soil. By actions and deeds, Bamidele has justified these by his contributions to humanity.

The monarch of the ancient town, Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti,  Oba Adeniyi Ajakaiye, described Bamidele as an embodiment of what  leadership stands for depicted in one’s concern for his community in terms of development and other areas of human endeavours. 

The royal father said: “We as a community that produced him are glad to note that he has risen to national prominence not only as a politician, but also as a servant-leader committed to improving the lives of the people”. He further remarked that Bamidele had turned Iyin-Ekiti into a huge construction site, citing many landmark projects to validate his position.

The monarch highlighted the projects to include construction of Iyin-Ilawe road, construction of the road network within the community, installation of solar lights as well as construction of market stalls with modern facilities.

The traditional ruler was brazen and pointedly in his averment that Bamidele’s emergence as Senate Leader further amplified his capacity for transformative leadership. According to him, Bamidele brought a unique sense of integrity to impactful national service.

He said since assuming office, Bamidele had addressed the challenges of poverty and unemployment among his constituents, and had reshaped the narrative of general poverty reduction in the country.

He listed such impactful programmes of Bamidele to include skills development, entrepreneurship support, and financial empowerment by ensuring that many Ekiti people have basic tools to work with.

Others included providing several other constituents with opportunities for a better future.

These support, he said, also included empowering graduates and small businesses, empowering women and creating opportunities for the youth.

“He has also been at the forefront of responding swiftly to emergency situations, whether caused by conflict, or natural occurrences, through ensuring that those in dire need of one assistance or the other, received timely assistance, ” he said.

Similarly, principal coordinators of the street procession and carnival-like event, Hon. Israel Adesokan, and Dr Titilayo Akinola, commended Bamidele for his spirit of statesmanship and service delivery to the state and the community while also partnering financial institute to provide redefined services, strong support to SMEs owners in the state.

In his remarks on the occasion, Bamidele, thanked the traditional ruler and the entire Iyin-Ekiti people for the reception.

He said it was not just a celebration, but a call to further service.

The highly excited Senate Leader, who stressed that he never took the kind gesture of the ruler and the community for granted reaffirmed his dedication to driving development and progress for the benefit of his constituents and beyond.

Specifically, he was upbeat that the honour would propel him to  focus more on aligning efforts with Governor Biodun Oyebanji and other Ekiti leaders to address the state’s challenge