Opeyemi Bamidele, the revisionist

In his attempt to further mob us with his ambition to 'govern' Ekiti people in 2014, we are once again being assailed, if not assaulted, by Mr Opeyemi Bamidele's revision of events and history, reminiscent of the Stalinist era in the old Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin used all forms of subterfuge, lies, intellectual forgeries and even terror to decimate the ranks of his more intellectual colleagues, especially Leon Trotsky who were followers of Lenin. From thence the struggle and revolution of the people derailed. Bamidele wants to derail the revolution going on in Ekiti. 

In his interview in the Nigerian Sunday Tribune of 3rd November, 2013, we are regaled with the story of how he brought Dr. Kayode Fayemi to Nigeria and persuaded him to join his former Party, the AD now APC. We say his former party advisedly because he indicated in the interview that he will contest his ambition on the platform of another party. The case of a bird waiting to fly. Good riddance. 

Mr Bamidele fell short of saying, as a former school colleague of Fayemi, he sponsored, weaned, mentored and even assisted him to pass his exams up to obtaining his Phd. 

We are not surprised by all his claims in the interview because this is the style of the revisionist whose stock in trade is to at best put events out of context, distort history in order to subvert it, for self-aggrandisement. 

As noted in our earlier intervention, the contributions of Fayemi to the birthing and sustenance of the present democracy are well documented and legendary that do not require repeating here. Suffice it to say however, and before Mr Bamidele pulls wool on the faces of those who may not know, it is important that he and his court of mutual admirers are put in their rightful place regarding historical facts and contexts. 

First, in Students Unionism, Bamidele did not play more active part than Dr. Fayemi as his (Fayemi's) activism dated back to his university days. He was Secretary of Eni Njoku Hall and with the Chairman of the Hall, were representatives at the Students' Union Senate. He along with other students played active roles in the formation of many students liberation movements such as Movement for National Awareness (MONA), Youths United in Solidarity for Southern Africa (YUSSA) and All Nigeria United Nations Students Association' (ANUNSA). He was an active  volunteer at the headquarters of the two Liberation Movements in Nigeria: African National Congress (ANC) and the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). All these are contained in his book,' Out Of The Shadows'; and his other Treatises in various write-ups. 

It is now clear that apart from his attempt to read Law at Uniben, one singular other reason Bamidele had to re-enroll at the University was to consummate his ambition to lead the NANS Students Union organisation which he could not achieve at Ife as part of his carrierist vision. The trait or track of inordinate ambition? 

It is common knowledge the heroic roles played by Fayemi, both in exile and Nigeria during the struggle against the Military to validate the June 12 elections won by Bashorun MKO Abiola but annulled by the Babangida junta. Those times tested the will of patriots. Fayemi stood up to be counted. His networking with international organisations and global civil society bodies to sensitize them and drum up support for the democratic project, is known to all except Bamidele. 

Perhaps the most epochal role of Fayemi during this period, was his heroic connection with the Radio Kudirat. That was the only electronic organ that lifted the soul of our people then. Or was it Bamidele that took one of the most dangerous moves when the plane Fayemi boarded, landed at the Lagos Airport unplanned, while he was on the hit list of the then maximum ruler, Abacha? O my God! 

It will also appear from his mindset in the interview that Bamidele solely owns Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In other words Fayemi never knew nor met Asiwaju before our selfsame friend introduced him to the respected Asiwaju. This claim is not only fraudulent but also a flight in self delusion. The fact is that Asiwaju has knack to surround himself with fertile intellectual minds. His eagle eyes would not miss a Fayemi who has been appropriately described by one of his brother Governors as 'brain power'. The intellectual power of Fayemi is world renown and prodigious. Perhaps very soon we will be told that Bamidele introduced Fayemi to the many global intellectual giants of the hue of our own first African Nobel laureate in Literature, Wole Soyinka. We are earnestly waiting for the 'breaking news'. 

One other issue raised by MOB is to the effect that upon Fayemi's return to Nigeria from exile he headed straight to Aso Rock to become a speech writer and by extension a PDP member. This is bunkum and an attempt at blackmail to cover his unfolding folly. Even the smallest mind will laugh at this as it is not backed by evidence. Events and activities of Fayemi in the political space do not support this. If the technocratic support by Fayemi, in concert with some of his colleagues, to deepen and grow our nascent democracy through the creation of institutions and assist us transit out of our military past, is misread to mean working for PDP, then our man should be pitied. 

On a final note, we may ask the question that at what point did Bamidele even become a member of the Party he's claiming ownership in Ekiti? His political record in this democracy is open to all. On his return from his self imposed exile, he was based in Lagos holding one political post or the other since 1999. It stands to reason, decency; and a duty to the people that he would have registered in Lagos and not Ekiti. Or is it a case of double voter registration which is patent illegality? For a person who wants to be Governor at all costs and by all means? This is a poser for Mr Opeyemi Bamidele! 

CHIEF OLU AKINWUNMI wrote from Ise Ekiti.



"Truth is always the strongest argument"- Dr. D.K. Olukoya