Opeyemi Bamidele: Is the chicken coming home to roost?

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.

Many “hawks” in the regional space of Yoruba politics have shown traits of political timidity when they get on the center stage of National politics. In preference for self preservation, many have turned coats inside out. Is this the fate of The Senate Leader? Was he chicken hearted in Kano? Or is it that some mischievous political opponents within the senate who are interested in his position in the senate hierarchy are trying to bring this chicken home to roost by creating the impression that “omo akin se ojo”(a supposed warlord turning cowardly)!Is the distinguished Senator elected by 10th Senate as the Leader of the Nigeria Senate lacking the courage to protect the interest of Yoruba his tribe?A le fi eniyan je oye awodi ko ma le gbe ediye. He who is elected the eagle must devour the chickens, says that Yoruba adage. It is therefore an aberration for the Senator representing the bold people of Ekiti Central to be guilty of timidity. Not minding the over protective nature of the President and his policies by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele at the floor of the senate, conduct I hope to ex-ray going forward on the Kano retreat side talks. I will give the Senator the benefit on the doubt in this piece.It came like a ripple from the Retreat of the senate committee on constitution review from Kano, but the ripple is growing into a storm and it may consume some persons. Who and who it will, only time will tell.In what shows the determination of ethnic nationalities to see the Nigeria federation restructured, alleged rumour or news credited to Senator Bamidele had not settled down when the cross current wind of reactions have begun rocking our national ship. If MNR was intellectual in their reaction. OPC’s was like “ile ni apoti njoko de idi”,OPC in a very swift reaction to Opeyemi Bamidele’s alleged statement on regionalism, said; “Posterity will judge you”!Foremost Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Oodua People’s Congress condemned in totality and in strong term, the position of the Leader of Nigerian Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on regionalism, saying the lawmaker has lost the trust of the people he is representing in Yoruba land.Bamidele was alleged to have at the National Assembly hearing on constitutional review rejected the bill to return Nigeria to regionalism, saying if the lawmakers should allow regional system in Nigeria, then it would automatically give the Easterners BiafraSpeaking in a statement made available to the media, the Publicity Secretary of the OPC, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, said “it is unfortunate that Barrister Opeyemi who was once a respected activist that had also clamored for a national conference to address the fundamental issues of restructuring in this country suddenly changed and became a centralist-minded person that is now rejecting the bill to return Nigeria to regionalism.”Oguntimehin said the lawmaker has failed to realize all the advantages inherent in regionalism, stating that regionalism will allow cohesion, healthy competition and regional autonomy. It will enhance regional and internal security among the regions.“Even a country with over 10 million people with such a multi-ethnic composition like Nigeria must have a federating unit that allows regional autonomy, regardless of the name you wish to call it, either regions or provinces. That is the normal thing all over the world.“For instance, 50 states in the US are like a region. Also in Ghana, a prominent country in Africa with a population of less than sixty million, has regions. Even South Africa allows its provinces to develop at their own pace.“It is unfortunate that a man of Opeyemi Bamidele’s position, background and antecedents decided to go against the position of many Nigerians and selfishly narrows his thinking to play politics with such a sensitive issue and also believing that regionalism may later in the future give a particular ethnic nationality a country as he was referencing the Eastern region with the Biafra.“He didn’t even see the wisdom in looking beyond his nose to see the possibilities and importance of regionalism as a potential tool for a successful federating unit.“I wonder how an activist, a former student union leader, a Senate leader like him with history of activism suddenly showed how political position and power can easily change his person.“As far we are concerned, OPC condemned his position in totality and it is unfortunate that he is one of the representatives in Yoruba land.“However, we urge him to change his views and position on this because as a foremost Yoruba socio-cultural organization, OPC is monitoring the events in the parliament and history will always judge whoever that goes against the wishes of Nigeria and Nigerians.” I remember in the beginning of the OPC’s struggle, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele was one of the activists that were at the vanguard of the call for national conference. He stood by the people then and now like a chameleon, he suddenly changed.“Let it be said that the only way Nigeria can move forward as a nation is to embrace regionalism where the regions develop at their own pace.“Let it also be said that for those whose position was that if we have regionalism, the central government will be weakened, that is not true because issues of the percentage of the resources to be allocated to the federal or government at the centre will be addressed between the regions.“The government at the centre will automatically be strong and most of the blame game that usually attract the government at the centre will definitely not be directed to the federal government alone.“For instance, some of the problems we have today as a country are not caused only by the president, but also by the governors or the local government chairmen.“But because of the system of government we practise which is unitary system of government, all blames and condemnations go to the president or presidency.“So, we think it is time for us to correct this political misstep by allowing the federating units to develop at their own pace.“OPC’s position on regionalism is sacrosanct because it is the only possible solution that will allow Nigeria to fulfill its dream of becoming a great nation. “We want federal, region, state and local government because those are the four tiers of government that can foster peace, progress and development in Nigeria.“Imagine a country where all the four tiers of government have their police structure. The issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past.“Under this arrangement, we can still have one national army, navy, air force and the DSS, while the police structure should be national, region, state and local government.“That is the only system that can guarantee effective policing in Nigeria. Politicians should not ignore the very essence of the foundation of this country because today they are in the parliament.“They should not set a bad precedence”. They should not allow Nigeria to slide and become the laughing stock among the comity of nations.“Every day, Nigeria is sliding. The image of Nigeria is not too good in the global community because we choose to continue to operate with the constitution handed over to us by the military government.“So, for Senator Opeyemi Bamidele to continue to support the status quo, giving unnecessary excuses is a sad reminder of how power intoxicates.“If we have regionalism today, the issue of agitation in the East will reduce drastically because the Easterner will decide who becomes their premier and they will work on the progress of their region and will be meeting at the centre in Abuja, without any interference from any part of the other regions.“That is the simple analysis that can change the narratives of this country,” he stated.The OPC scribe stated also that its the National Assembly that was supposed to resolve issues revolving around the local government autonomy, but they failed until the President got a Supreme Court judgment that later resolved the lingering issues.Oguntimehin, however, maintained that posterity will judge whoever goes against the wishes of Nigeria and Nigerians.However, the Leader of the Nigerian Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has denied the allegation making rounds regarding regionalism; “I’m not working against Yoruba’s interest”!The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele has faulted the claims that he was working against the interests of the Yorubas in the National Assembly.He made the clarification in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Wednesday in Abuja while refuting claims in some media platforms.Some media platforms had falsely attributed a statement to the senate leader that “If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra”.Bamidele also said that the claims are “baseless, false and unfounded,” noting that he had been dutifully serving the interests of Ekiti Central, Ekiti State, South-west and Nigeria by extension since his election into the National Assembly.*He challenged any person with audio-visual and documentary evidence to come out and present such*.Bamidele said that he never made such a statement, which he said was an attempt to pitch him against the Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities in the federation.He added that he did not make any statement about the regional government in line with the 1960 and 1963 Constitution at the Sept. 27 to 28 Senate Retreat on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.“The claim is far from the truth. I never spoke about the return to the regional government at any forum; neither did I make a claim that ‘If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra’.“It is a sheer case of misinformation and deliberate fake news which do not in any way represent my worldview about the federal governance structure,” Bamidele said.Bamidele however warned that; he would not hesitate to legally challenge any individual or establishment fabricating and circulating fake news against his person and office.Currently, according to the senate leader, there is no proposal for the return to the regional government before the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.He further said: “How then, can I oppose the proposal that is not currently before the Constitution Review Committee? I believe this statement is politically motivated to discredit me before Nigeria as a whole.“Already, the 10th Senate Constitution Review Committee has received 37 fresh constitution alteration bills.“The Committee is also considering 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the 9th National Assembly, making 53 alteration bills altogether.“None of these alteration bills proposed the return to the regional federal governance structure as practised in the First Republic.“Linking me to an anti-regional government is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my image. I am not working against the interest of the Yoruba. I will never do so for any reason,” he saidIs this ripple turn a storm over?One thing all the regions must note is that it is crystal clear that the 1999 constitution is only beneficial to its political elites administrators. This is what the shifting of position on regionalism by many leaders in the past have proven. Nigerians must therefore necessarily organise ourselves for a legislative revolution network to ensure that those who hold our mandate are truly representing us and if they are not, such non partisan platform should activate a recall of such erring legislators.Will OPC be prepared to partner with such course that places legislators under citizens watch and oversight? OPC shouldn’t like the rest of us be found politically lazy to give our elite politicians the treatment they deserve. OPC shouldn’t resort to prayer where action is needed. Waiting on history and posterity to judge those who are against the wishes of Nigeria and Nigerians. When are we going to put the recall clause of our legislators to test?What those who are opposed to regionalism have failed to realise is that, accepting our regional identity, diversity and uniqueness is the first step towards complementing one another to develop bonds of national unity.Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.

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