13 Dec 2013
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Political Notes

Better described as the night of the long knives, it marked the turning point in the governorship ambition of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele. The House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Legislative Budget and Research had led a delegation of prominent Ekiti indigenes to meet with the National Leader of his former party, Bola Tinubu. The thrust of the meeting was straightforward- the people claimed they no longer could cope with Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on several grounds that they had canvassed and in his place, wanted Bamidele.

But since the party was unlikely to either drop Fayemi or conduct primary election to determine its candidate, they came to the conclusion that Bamidele should further his ambition on another political platform. That was not going to be as easy and so, the meeting that started a few minutes to midnight on a Thursday lasted till about 5am the following Friday.

After arguing back and forth and none was going to buy into each other’s logic, Tinubu requested to have Bamidele put paid to the controversy by stating where he stood. Clearly a smart one from the political samurai who was certain that his ‘political godson could not look him in the face and say no to him’. But one of the leaders on the delegation protested and requested that Bamidele be excused against the backdrop that he had been up for almost 24 hours and so, his alertness could have been consequently slowed down.

Ironically, Bamidele saw it differently; he thought it was a golden opportunity to lay the issue to rest if at all he meant business and so, he elected to speak. Like others before him, he could not also convince Tinubu with all the stories he had taken his time to tell until the bus driver theory flashed him from nowhere and he started thus:
“Asiwaju, I’d like you to see it this way, you had about 36 buses to give out to drivers across the 36 states of the federation to take the people to different destinations and safely. In the process, I approached you to give one to a friend I had thought could drive and trusting my judgment, you obliged me. Neither I nor you had an idea of the class of driver’s licence he held. We could not even say what kind of car he had driven before but we reckoned he could drive and we handed him the keys to the bus and left the safety of the people in his care.

“As he continued with the journey, it became apparent that the bus was bigger than his experience and as he swerved along the way at different turns, he had hit the civil servants; knocked down the teachers, brushed students on the side of the road and even party men. It therefore got to the point that everyone knew there was danger ahead and in the bus were people of different faiths, so, they all started to pray. And seeing that they were closer to the last stop, their prayer point was for the bus to get to the terminus safely and craved for a more experienced driver.

“But as he approached the last stop which had created some excitement in the passengers, he decided he was not going to stop but continue with the journey. However, because the people had a right to ask for another driver, the other option was for them to join another bus if denied the request for a new driver. Otherwise, some could take the risk of hopping out on motion and some might begin to even drag the steering with him. What that means is chaos. So, if you won’t oblige them a new driver, allow them the choice of joining a different bus.”

Just as he rounded off his analogy, everyone at the meeting including Tinubu laughed hysterically, until Tinubu allegedly retorted: “So, Opeyemi, you think this is a joke, abi? You must think it’s a joke!” But he insisted he meant it and that seemed to seal his desire, somewhat to further his ambition on another platform. Whether or not this analogy or theory was correct as it were, the fact that the battle for Ekiti 2014 has begun is already established. Fingers crossed!

M.O.B FOR GOV 2014

Now that's a child's way of speaking a truth and breaking it down. If the driver is changed,which to me is the only logical step to take,let's aLl hope the new driver is skilled and qualified to take on the pot holes,check points,robberies and other disasters that may be on the road

What is it within the AC(N) dna that makes primaries so undemocratic in their view?
This selection mentality is so archaic and uncivil.

AKUNWATA1: M.O.B FOR GOV 2014

who b m.o.b

micheal Opeyemi Bamidele

mbulela: micheal Opeyemi Bamidele

CORRECT