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…This is Part of Nigeria’s Political Realignment, Say Oni, Reps Member
As the All Progressives Congress moves to reclaim the presidency from the stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party, National leaders of the party , Saturday met with a member of House of Representatives, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, to enlist his support for the candidature of Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari.
The APC emissary, led by Deputy National Chairman, South and former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, visited Bamidele, a chieftain of the Labour Party at his residence in Iyin Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, where they held a closed door meeting with some LP Chieftains in attendance.
Oni sauntered into Bamidele’s home at about 10.07am and held a meeting that lasted for about 35 minutes, where the APC leader was said to have begged the former Lagos State Commissioner for Information on the need to forgive whatever misgivings he had against ex- Governor Kayode Fayemi.
It would be recalled that Fayemi and Bamidele had engaged in battle of wit over who flies the party’s flag for the June 21, 2014 Governorship election, which pushed the reps member to dump the then ACN for LP shortly before the consummation of APC.
When emerged from the venue, Oni, who spoke briefly with the reporters said:” Don’t be surprised that I am here. I am here to pay solidarity on the need for us to have a future together.
“This is not Opeyemi Bamidele’s affair. We are talking to LP leaders and whatever the decision is , you will hear later”, Oni pointed out.
Bamidele, who was flanked by party leaders said his meeting with the APC leader was part of the ongoing realignment in the politics of the nation in preparation towards the February, 2015 general elections.
Bamidele, who pointed out that LP has been under tremendous pressure from both PDP and APC for support ahead of the presidential poll, denied that the meeting was a signpost to the widespread rumour that he was preparing to defect to APC before the general elections.
He noted that LP, having not fielded any presidential candidate would deploy support for candidate with robust political credentials and indisputable capacity to curtail corruption and the dreaded insurgency pummeling the nation.
He said : “As a career politician, we are abreast of the happenings across the nation. But we want to make it clear that the teeming LP supporters will take decision on the next election based on the antecedents of the candidates. We will consider what Nigerians want and the overriding public interest in taking decision.
“I had earlier told you that our party is making consultation and the visit of Engr Segun Oni was part of that consultations. A lot of things are going on in Nigeria today including political realignment which is an integral part of politicking .
“I waged a lot of battle in 2014 as a governorship candidate. I might not have been declared winner, but it was a moral battle that we must continue to wage. It is a moral battle against corruption, insecurity
and continued decimation of our country.
“As concerned leaders, we have to support a government that would be able to provide employment for our teeming unemployed youths, curtailed corruption and insecurity. A government that would know the essence of leadership “, he said.
He said joining the ongoing political realignment across the nation is not for personal aggrandizement or primordial political aspiration, but for collective interest of the Nigerian populace and Ekiti in particular.
“This decision is not about Opeyemi Bamidele. I am still going to reach out to our leaders at the State, Local Government and ward levels to arrive at a decision. This meeting would be the fourth meeting I would be holding with the leadership of APC .
“Likewise , I had met with the leadership of the PDP, even some officials of the presidency discussing several issues that bordered on the development of this nation. I had met with even our own dear governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose as stakeholders in Ekiti project. So, it is about Nigeria and not Bamidele”.
