EKITI 2014: AN IRREVOCABLE CLARION CALL I SHALL NOT IGNORE.
I have read in some of the Nigerian Dailies the purported report of what transpired at the July 3rd 2013 Ado Ekiti meeting of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and I find it difficult to reconcile the reports with the contents and actual proceedings at the said meeting, just like many other leaders of the party who were personally in attendance at the meeting. Surely, I am amazed and disappointed that a sincere attempt by leaders of the ACN to resolve the lingering crisis that had existed within the party in Ekiti was mismanaged by some selfish elements who twisted the good faith call by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on party leaders and members in Ekiti to find an amicable manner of resolving the said crisis, including a call on the leadership of the party to immediately reinstate all the ward and local government structures of the party that had been arbitrarily dissolved without congresses and in violation of the party’s constitution. It was an indoor meeting where party leaders freely spoke their mind. Unfortunately, however, those who are bent on straining my cordial relationship with the leadership of the party went out of the meeting to give a twisted version of the well intended advice by His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insinuating that Asiwaju had endorsed Governor Kayode Fayemi for second term and “warned” me to abandon my “Governorship ambition”!!!
I am stating unequivocally that by the grace of God and the encouragement of the well meaning people of Ekiti State I, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, will be contesting election to be Governor of Ekiti State come year 2014. It is an irrevocable conclusion based on popular yearnings as well as my personal conviction and commitment to human capital development and the creation of a new and united Ekiti.
No one can come between Asiwaju and I. He gave me an opportunity to serve the Government and people of Lagos State in a senior capacity for eleven years. Having worked as one of his committed and trusted leg boys to actualize his dream of creating a new Lagos, I am sure Asiwaju will not begrudge me on my ambition to work with other well meaning Ekiti sons and daughters to take Ekiti to the next level. It is a personal decision for which I am willing to take responsibility, God being my strength.
This deliberate mismanagement of information, no doubt, is in furtherance of the series of attempts to push me and my supporters out of the ACN, forgetting that even if they had succeeded in doing that, it still would not deter me from pursuing my vision and ambition on other progressive party platforms based on divine guidance and the leading of Ekiti stakeholders home and abroad. I have an aspiration to be Governor, which is narrow and personal to me. But I have an ambition, which is broader than my personal aspiration and it is this ambition to see a new and better Ekiti in place that actually unites me with Ekiti people regardless of political, religious, social or cultural divides. I am convinced that Ekiti must be free and it will be a much needed freedom from poverty and want, which will herald in a popular transition to economic prosperity in a stable polity.
Believe me, I mean business; trust me, I am determined to run this race and I am keeping the faith that I will not only run a successful race but shall finish strong to lead a Government of unity that will help to heal the broken hearts and make political hatred and social hostilities a thing of the past. My only hope and prayer is that all of us in this race will commit ourselves to making this campaign a campaign of issues and allow a level playing field for all aspirants and party candidates when the time comes. It is well.
Signed
Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB)