Ekiti guber: APC can’t collect N22.5m and have anointed candidate – Sen. Bamidele

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A top contender in the Ekiti State governorship election, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has dismissed the insinuations that the All Progressive Congress (APC) has an anointed candidate in the election, saying it (APC) cannot ask aspirants to come and buy forms at N22.5 million for the election and still plan an anointed candidate.

Fielding questions from journàlists at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja after purchasing his nomination and expression of interest forms, senator Bamidele also said neither the Governor has anointed candidate, even though people may be dropping the name of the Governor, hoping to secure popularity through the means.

“If it was the wish of our Governor to anoint an aspirant, if it was the wish of our party to have an aspirant anointed, they will not be organising or be preparing to hold the party primary, neither will they be asking us to come and spend N22.5 million to come and buy form. They would have said this is the candidate of the party by consensus.

“The Governor has not told anybody, this is who I am supporting and if I know Governor Fayemi well enough and I believe I do, I do not see him coming out at any point, even if I were to be his own chosen candidate or anointed candidate, the best he can do is to have sympathy for me. He still would not have raised my hand to say this is the anointed candidate.

“So, we are not there yet. It is too early for anybody to begin to say ‘I am the anointed candidate of the Governor’. I understand politics better than being upset by such a claim by some people who just want to drop names.”

Speaking on his experience and qualifications to govern Ekiti, he said nobody knows Ekiti State more than him among all the aspirants, adding that he has acquired experience in both the executive, legislative and judicial arm of Government, having worked for eleven years in the Lagos cabinet, and having been a senator representing Ekiti Central, and also, having practiced law both in Nigeria and in the United States.

According to him, “I have had privileges and opportunities, extreme and extended exposure in the three arms of government. One, as a solicitor of the Supreme court of Nigeria and as an attorney and council at law in the state of New York in the United States. All of these in the last 30 years has given me the opportunity to network extensively within the judicial arm of government.

“Today, by the grace of God, I am a member of the body of benchers which is the highest decision making organ of the legal profession.

“I have also been privileged to serve in the executive arm of government. I served in the cabinet of Lagos state for 11 and a half years, under two governors and that was an opportunity to operate and get exposure within the executive arm of government.

“I got elected into the legislative arm in 2011 and today, by the grace of God, I ama serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That makes the exposure for me, complete”.

He said having transversed the three arms of government, he said he has got what it takes to lead the state like Ekiti, especially at a time like this when everyone who has a scientific understanding of what is wrong and what needs to be done, needs to come forward and present himself.

“I’m not contesting this election because I feel I am the only one who can add value in Ekiti State but I’m in this race because I’m convinced that more than anyone else, I know Ekiti like no one does, among those of us who have indicated interest in being governor of Ekiti State and I know the workings of government in the three arms like no one does among those of us that are aspiring.

“I’ve also said that I’ll be governing the state on the basis of the policy thrust from the HEART representing Health and Human Services, Education and Economic advancement of the state, Agriculture and Mineral development, Rural and Infrastructural development, Transformation of youths and women.

“Finally, I must say that Ekiti is today led by a governor who understands the language of internal democracy and party politics, HE John Kayode Fayemi and his administration has done so well and so much for Ekiti State and the administration deserves to have a worthy and well focussed successor who will not only protect the legacies of our party and the administration in Ekiti State, but will also build upon and take the state to the very next level of development”, he said.

He further dismissed the claims by some persons that the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi has anointed one of his cabinet members for the position, saying

“I believe that in politics all manner of rumours will take place. I also believe it is customary, traditional and conventional for  people to drop the name of Governors or Presidents when they are seeking political office.”