DO YOU KNOW HON. MICHAEL OPEYEMI BAMIDELE (MOB)?

It is a tragic irony that people who do not even know their own stories will attempt to tell another person’s. Such dastardly acts results in nothing but a gross and regrettable misrepresentation of the personality being discussed. This has been the anomaly that had pervaded the Ekiti political atmosphere since Honourable Michael Opeyemi Bamidele declared his avowed intention to run for the highest political office in Ekiti state.

The workers of mischief, the scoundrels of the blackest dye, behind the political orchestra trying to malign MOB’S image are doing so for no other reason, but because the enigma, MOB, demanded true internal democratic cultures within the echelons of the APC which the handlers of the party did not want. So, they set their boys to ensure the bastardization of MOB’s personality. However, who will be against him, with whom the Lord had pitched His tent with?

                                                 HON. MICHAEL OPEYEMI BAMIDELE

Every human on earth is easily identified using three distinct parameters: name, face and deeds (personal or deeds done by the individual in collaboration with others). Talking about individual names, the fact is obvious that scores of people (even from different ethnic origins) could bear same name without any difference. Human faces are not different as many people have the same face and resemble one another. It therefore holds that these two parameters, name and face, are just not enough to identify individuals. Unfortunately, most analysts, since the MOB/JKF saga, have been using these two to tell MOB’s story.

It is tragically unfortunate that Ekiti is characterized with the inability to appreciate their own. Rather, we are very apt at derogating, denigrating and condemning our own at the slightest opportunity. MOB’s personality has been variously smeared and disparaged even by scoundrels of the darkest dye. It is saddening that a man who helped build Lagos during both Tinubu and Fashola’s administration to the extent that the state won various international accolades could be so hated by a section of his own people to the extent that even the people of that state can not but wonder what the matter is with us, the Ekitis.

I may not be able to say, but I wouldn’t know if there is any among all the four contenders to the governorship seat of Ekiti state that has MOB’s credentials before getting to or aspiring to get to the seat. Let us therefore, identify a dynamic and resourceful achiever, who has been severally celebrated outside the shores of Ekiti state.

I will not speak about MOB’s days both as the PRO of the “GREAT IFE” Students’ Union Government and his exploits as the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) during which he led the entire Nigerian students to fight to a standstill, the draconian military government of that era. I will not mention also, MOB’s activities in the NADECO days in Nigeria’s quest for the democracy which we are now all enjoying. It is on record that MOB was unjustly incarcerated, and without trial because of his activities in various pro-democracy groups by the military juntas. Telling all these will only help us to appreciate the fact that the man, MOB, had contributed immensely not only to the actualization of democracy, but also to the socio-political emancipation of this entity, called Nigeria. MOB has therefore paid his dues as a TRUE DEMOCRAT AND A SOCIAL CRUSADER AND ENGINEER OF NO LITTLE MIEN.

EKITI KETE O, “ka a ao ba ki un ni, i i, se la ki i un ao pada.” Meet me in the part two to this piece that endeavours to chronicle MOB’s achievements in his political journey so far.

Alale Ekiti a gbe a kete. Ase.

Let's meet tomorrow as we continue to chronicle the past achievements of MOB in our bid to know him, whom God has chosen, to lead Ekiti to the next level.