By Ayodele Abere
The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State at the Senate, and the Senate Leader of the tenth National Assembly, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has reiterated that he doesn’t have intention to run for governorship in the State in 2026.
The Senate Leader made this known again on Friday while inaugurating the public e-library he built for the State which he named after his former school principal, late Bishop Gabriel Oloniyo in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
“I have said it in good faith. It’s about our people who are hungry and need all the help. It’s about the people who are underemployed. It’s about the progress of the State. I chose to form a partnership that I know in the eight years with BAO governorship will take the State to a greater height. I am sorry if I offended anyone”. Bamidele said.
Describing the personality of his mentor, the late Bishop Oloniyo who he said he met in 1976 when he was admitted into Egba Owode Grammar School in Ogun State, where he was the school principal,
the Senate Leader said, Oloniyo instilled a lot of discipline in him and other people who were privileged to school under his tutelage saying he didn’t spare the cane.
“He flogged like no man did. I can’t remember any teacher who flogged more than the late Bishop Oloniyo. He was not only a school principal but also a class teacher. He’s someone I have a lot of honour and respect for, and someone to whom I owe a lot of gratitude as a mentor. I am personally happy today that somehow, I have found a way to recognise our father and it’s really my pleasure to handover the facility to the State”. Said the distinguished Senator.
In his remarks, having appreciated the donor of the facility, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Governor of the State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji said the library is very critical and dear to him saying that he promised to build a public library when he got a complaint from the Executive Secretary of the State Library Board, Mrs Yemisi Adeleye, that the State known as Fountain of Knowledge was not having a befitting library.
Oyebanji said he consulted the Senate Leader about it and that he told him that he was building one already and promised that he would release it to the State.
The governor who stated that he was touched by the commitment of the Executive Secretary of the State Library Board, Mrs Yemisi Adeleye,
said himself and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele made up their minds to complete the project because of her passion towards it.
Oyebanji who explained that the library is not just an ordinary library but a digital one, promised to equip it with everything needed to make it serve the purpose and vision of the donor, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. He appealed to everyone who will be making use of the facility to use it with decency by imbibing maintenance culture.
“We have provided this for you. It will gladden his heart and the memory of baba Oloniyo, who was a teacher and also a bishop that you come here and use this facility. The joy, is coming here and see people using it to acquire knowledge and develop themselves.
“I believe that the greatest legacy anyone can give to anybody is knowledge in education. The library is free of charge for public use”.The Governor explained as he promised to give everything the library needs to make it functional.
In his admonition to the entire people of the State, the Governor noted that for a state to develop, there’s need for peace, collaboration and mutual respect for one another, saying that what the Senate Leader, has done is always possible when there’s an alignment of vision between the people at the state and representatives at the federal level.
He appealed to the Senator to spread the joy beyond Ekiti Central Senatorial District saying God has made him the Leader of the Senate for the entire Ekiti people, urging that if there are projects he could put in other Senatorial Districts that he shouldn’t hesitate in doing so as long as it doesn’t against the procurement law.
In his word, “don’t mind what anybody will say, just do it to serve Ekiti people”. The Governor said he wants all Ekiti people to benefit from Opeyemi Bamidele now that he is the Senate Leader”.
The State Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi said she’s really encouraged by the inspirational leadership and generosity of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, saying the best gift is the gift that is meeting a need. She said the library is meeting a need.
Describing the library as a gift for generation, she thanked the donor on behalf of the people of Ekiti State particularly the upcoming generations whose lives will be turned around as they use the facility, she said she, herself was a great beneficiary of public library.
In her reaction, the Executive Secretary of the State Library Board, Mrs Yemisi Adeleye, thanked both the State Governor and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as she described the project as an answered prayer.
Adeleye described Governor Oyebanji as a listening father, selfless and a man of vision. Saying he took action immediately he heard about the project. “He has saved us from 28 years of groaning, pains and tears. Today, God Almighty has done it”. Said she.
In a separate interview with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, appreciated the Senate Leader for naming the facility after his father, the departed primate of Anglican diocese of Ife, Osun State.
Acknowledging the Senate Leader for naming the library after his father, the departed primate, of Anglican diocese of Ife, Dr. Oloniyo said, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is an ajudged son of baba Oloniyo.
According to him, “MOB might not be his biological son but he is one of the cherished sons of baba Oloniyo while he was alive”.
Speaking on the facility, the Governor’s aide explained that the State is blessed to have the digital library which according to him means imbibing reading culture with technology.
“We are privileged for the distinguished Senator to think of bringing this kind of thing to this environment”.
He therefore urged the youths to make proper use of it. Just as he equally commended the state Governor, Oyebanji for his contributions towards the project, and his disposition to all strata of people.
