Ogun West Initiative Chides Deputy Governor’s ‘Petulant’ Response To Senator Bamidele’s Lecture
ABEOKUTA – The Convener of Ogun West Initiative, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji, has responded to Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele’s statement on Senator Opeyemi Bamidele’s lecture, saying it was a “characteristically uncharitable” reaction that missed the essence of Bamidele’s message.
Adeniji said Bamidele’s lecture highlighted the need for unity in Ogun West to produce a governor in 2027 and identified Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as a strong contender.
He accused Deputy Governor of being “petulant” and urged her to appreciate Bamidele’s efforts instead of responding negatively.
The statement criticized Oyedele’s response as a “blow below the belt” and accused her of misinterpreting Bamidele’s intentions.
Adeniji emphasized that Bamidele was invited by a respected indigenous group and was exercising his right to free speech.
Adeniji urged the Deputy Governor to exercise “elevated restraint and circumspection” and support Ogun West’s emancipation, saying “discretion is the better part of valour”.
“I have taken cursory cognizance of your response to the lecture delivered by the Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, at a Media Engagement event organized by the body of eminent Ogun West Professionals from all fields of human endeavour.
“Rightly so, notable reactions have been made as necessary rebuttals, and for me, they eloquently captured the spirit of the moment. Nonetheless, it is imperative to provide additional perspective to detoxify the ‘poisonous chalice’.
“My dear sister Ma, I find it characteristically uncharitable that your bullish but petulant missive missed the fine elements of Senator Bamidele’s righteous intervention on Sunday.
“Firstly, Your Excellency Ma, rather than that knee-jerk jab on Senator Bamidele for his widely accepted paper, you may have been advised to take a studied look at the document and apprise yourself of the points listed above. This would have saved your wonderful person and good office of the opprobrium it is currently enmeshed in.
“Secondly, it amounts to a ‘dropped ball’ to construe Senator Bamidele as meddlesome in the affairs of Ogun State. That is not correct Ma! He was on a legitimate invitation by a well-respected indigenous group from Ogun West and whatever he said there falls within his inalienable rights of expression as captured in section 33 & 34 of the CFRN 1999 (As amended).
“Thirdly, it runs within the confines of disingenuity to input that Senator Bamidele is oblivious of the political leadership in Ogun State – the Governor in this case. The Senate Leader is too knowledged in party politics to know this basic norm and at no part of his speech did he insinuate in the least, that HE Dapo Abiodun is not the APC leader in Ogun State. On the contrary, as a national leader in his own right, his comments flowed from the residual knowledge of APC progressive style of politics that thrives on both centrifugal (State) and centripetal (National) power bases to arrive at consensus-styled candidacy.
“I am too sure you are aware of this, notwithstanding the length of your time in the progressive political family. APC guber ticket happens by ‘guided & popular consensus’ as superintended by the establishment and not by exclusive handpick of a single leader. The recent case of Osun state aptly refers.
“Therefore, paragraph 5 of your response was indeed a blow below the belt that victimized Senator Bamidele.
“Fourthly, the concluding paragraph of your reply is actually the crux of the matter and let me state unequivocally that preferences in democracy is in order even when you sue for peace. In our local government – Ado-Odo/Ota – for instance where you reign supreme as our leader, majority of the political decisions since 2019 (appointive and elective positions) have gone in the direction of your prompting. This I assume is not a bad democratic practice and it still portrays you as a peacemaker and mother of all. If this is true, it follows also that while Senator Opeyemi Bamidele sued for peace and unity, his alignment with the endorsement of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI) as the best man for Ogun West emancipation by the Professionals cannot be termed as a duplicitous statement.
“Conclusively Your Excellency Ma, rather than heckle the Senate Leader for the kind gesture extended by fowarding his paper to you, he should be appreciated for putting light on the path of Ogun West. For the first time ever, Ogun West for Governor agitation is receiving national attention and we now have the ‘option of first refusal’ for the gubernatorial ticket. We should celebrate the man who has made that visibility and possibility happen.
“Furthermore, history will be kind to you if with the benefit of hindsight and acknowledgement of the painstaking efforts of our heroes (dead and alive) in this struggle of emancipation to align yourself with any effort that firstly drags the prized asset home to Ogun West irrespective of personal choices – for that is the hallmark of executive greatness.”
