Ekiti 2022: Bamidele expresses optimism of transparent process

An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed confidence that neither Governor Kayode Fayemi nor the party leadership would impose any candidate during the 2022 primary.

Bamidele stated this on Thursday while formally declaring his interest in the 2022 governorship on the platform of APC at the party’s Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.

The APC aspirant described himself as the best to govern Ekiti in view of his experiences in public service that spanned over 30 years and cut across the executive, legislative and judiciary.

Addressing party leaders, Bamidele said his contributions in the Senate included being instrumental to the passage of a bill for the establishment of a Medical Science University and a branch of Law School in the state.

He added that he had been able to secure employments for 79 citizens of Ekiti as a senator and had empowered over 4,000 persons, including the physically challenged, in his Senatorial district.

The APC Federal lawmaker said he decided to join the gubernatorial race in order to better the lot of the masses in Ekiti.

“We will strive hard to ensure that we do not create crisis for APC. I am particularly happy that the party had not endorsed anybody or is under any instruction to impose anybody.

“I know that Governor Kayode Fayemi will not do anything that will scatter the party as a leader, this I am confident of.

“The January 2022 primary election is not the ultimate, but how to win the June 2022 election. I am convinced that our party chairman is a gentleman, I have known some of you for a long time as men of integrity,” Bamidele said.

He said he is comfortable with the party and the governor’s leadership style, adding that he believed that Fayemi could not impose neither me nor anyone as a candidate for the sake of our party.

He said, “I will not be a politician that will terrify Ekiti, I will rather work for its comfort.”

The aspirant said he is not the only one that is qualified to be governor, but that he has all the qualities that can make him outstanding governor, if giving the opportunity.

“There are three arms of government, judiciary, executive and legislature. In the Judiciary, I belong to the body of benchers, the highest decision making body in the sector.

“As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, we superintend over all Federal Courts and other judicial institutions in this country.

“Again, I was a member of the State Executive Council as commissioner in Lagos under two governors for 11 years. I had been a member of House of Representatives and now a Senator. So, I have experience in the judiciary, executive and legislative arms,” he boasted.

Ekiti APC Chairman, Mr. Paul Omotoso, who spoke on behalf of the State Working Committee, described Bamidele as a respectable individual, assuring that the party would not impose any candidate in the coming primaries.

The chairman added that what the party stands for is equity, justice and fair play and that nothing would change those.

Before coming to the party secretariat, Bamidele was received by a mammoth crowd of admirers, including commercial motorcycle operators and drivers, who had a procession from Ilawe road to Ajilosun, where the APC Secretariat is located.