Written by: Julius Toba Jegede
Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele at the weekend took the first executive governor of the state and his Iyin Ekiti town kinsman Adeniyi Adebayo to the cleaners over the latter’s alleged political hypocrisy.
Bamidele spoke at the palace of the paramount ruler of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye that Adebayo had disappointed Iyin Ekiti where both of them hail from.
He also promised people of the town that his tenure, if elected to office as a governor on the 21st of June would mark a departure from legacy of disgrace which he said Adebayo left behind.
He was reacting to a statement by the former governor where he claimed that no indigene of the town should indicate interest in running for Ekiti governorship for now.
Adebayo in a recent comment had claimed that nobody from his hometown deserved a right to contest for the post, claiming that it should be left for other 131 towns in Ekiti.
Adebayo who is also a key supporter of incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi and a kinsman of Bamidele had repeatedly condemned Bamidele’s ambition for a governor.
But Bamidele during his visit to Oluyin the Iyin Ekiti monarch, said Adebayo had disappointed the town as a former governor and called on upcoming politicians among them not to emulate him.
He urged all sons and daughters of the town to forgive Adebayo over his recent statements made against their collective interest.
Bamidele reminded Iyin Ekiti indigenes on Friday to ask Adebayo to name a single project that he attracted to their town while he was a governor between 1999 and 2003.
He revealed that there were 856 towns and villages in the old western region at a time the father of the former governor Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) became a military governor.
He said the same theory the junior Adebayo is now postulating could not stop his father when he emerged a governor shortly after the death of Late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, also from same Ekiti central representing the whole of Yoruba race.
Apparently referring to the Adebayos, Bamidele urged ordinary people of the town to stand up against any form of political imposition by any prominent family.
Recall that Aare Femi Adebayo who is the elder brother of the former governor is currently a key stakeholder in Bamidele’s campaign organisation, “Ekiti Bibiire Coalition”
According to Bamidele, “Going by his statements, former governor Adeniyi Adebayo is a disappointment to Iyin Ekiti where we believe he hails from. He has openly demonstrated that he is more of Isan Ekiti (Fayemi’s hometown) than Iyin Ekiti where his parents were born”
“Today, I challenge all sons and daughters of this town to ask Adebayo for a single project or a legacy he left behind in this town after he left office in 2003. Ask him also of how many people he was able to empower within same time. Ask him also that how many of such he has assisted in the current administration of Fayemi where he is a godfather”
“Apart from his wife who is representing the the slot of Ekiti State on the board of Oodua Group of Companies. Apart from his son who is a Special Adviser to the governor on Diaspora Affairs. Apart from his cousins who are Personal Assistants to Fayemi, please ask him who again he has helped in this town”
“It is an insult to Iyin Ekiti his hometown that nobody should aspire to become a governor again after him. He said since there 132 towns and villages in Ekiti State, Iyin his hometown remains disqualified to serve in this capacity again”
“This theory of his did not surface when his father became a governor in the old western region made up of 856 towns. This happened shortly after another Ekiti son who hails from a town of less than 8km to Iyin Ekiti left the office”
“I urge you all to forgive him, I also pray that Eyemote (ancestor of Iyin Ekiti) should forgive him over this ignorance. But I want you to resist any attempt by some big families who believe that only their names should be heard in this town” he added
Also, the monarch Oba Ajakaye in his response said he was happy to have one of his subjects in person of Bamidele coming out as a governorship candfidate.
While praying for his success, Ajakaye said he was proud that Iyin Ekiti is gradually becoming the political meeting point of Ekiti.
He described Bamidele as his son and disregarded insinuations that he was working against his interest as a ruse.
Meanwhile the ancient town of Iyin Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government of Ekiti State stood still for Bamidele on Friday.
Bamidele who arrived Iyin Ekiti at about 5:30pm took almost 30mins to gain entry into the venue of his political rally scheduled for the day.
Youth groups, market women, the elderly and Labour Party members across Iyin Ekiti trooped into the market square where the event took place.
They chanted pro-Bamidele and anti-Fayemi songs dancing across major streets, they urged Bamidele not to look back in his ambition to become next governor of Ekiti State.
Presence of several anti-riot policemen drafted from the state capital were noticed all through the event, this followed unconfirmed security reports that some APC youths wanted to disrupt the rally.
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