MY RETURN TO ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS [APC]- LIFE’S JOURNEY, THE TWISTS AND TURNS, MOTIVES AND ACTIONS.
-I AM NOT A POLITICAL PHILANDERER OR WANDERER.
A BIT OF A BACKGROUND.
First and foremost , this is not an attempt to white wash or rationalise the decision to return to APC, a party that we laboured and sweated with others to build, as I often say APC is a party of history.
I can say very humbly, but as a matter of fact, and I challenge any latter day gospeller or revisionist to a public debate on my little inputs into what today is now known as the All Progressives Congress, [APC].
We sweated, got lacerated, physically bruised and emotionally drained, we drank and swam in the brackish waters of adversity from ACD/AD to AC to ACN to get to today’s APC.
In my eighteen years political journey from 2004-2005 to date, i was an actively involved participant, who joyfully and joyously put in all, i was an inside player for all of these years except, the years from [2018-2022] and when i finally had to quit from 2022 june – 2023 july.
The years between 2018 and 2022 were hostage taking years, characterised by one man show, sycophancy, and playing to the gallery, cronyism to please the people in authority at the State, anyone with contrary opinion or unwilling to be a foot mat was marked an enemy, it was the enthronement of full blown political feudalism, democratic authoritarianism and our state became the fiefdom of a privileged few who held not only the people but the party and state by the jugular.
It was the period when our past collective strength and the beauty derived from our shared history of adversity was terminated by the management of our success and victory as a party. It was a new political milieu and dispensation, whereby only a few people became everything.
“.. NO BE THESE POLITICIANS? ABEGGI..ALL OF UNA NAH THESAME THING”
Yes,I have read the refrain from the bunch of naysayers whose stock in trade is to typecast and “bulk pay” every “politician’s” action, particularly as associated with change of party, which most people feel is driven by ulterior motives and pecuniary considerations.
They go ” all of them are thesame” , or sometime in pidgin English pass their snide remarks of “nah same thing” or “flowing with the tide” sometimes they go with the “before nko?” retort.
And when they want to deliver the sucker punch š in their little minds, they add leave them , nah politics without ideology” talking about quiting one party for the other and then returning particularly if it is percieved that the tide of fortune is better in the party you are returning to etc
BENEFIT OF THE OTHER SIDE.. EVERY COIN HAS MINIMUM OF TWO SIDES..
Well, while everyone’s entitled to their opinions and whatever may have informed their deductions and conclusions, let me say that I have all the right to my opinion too and I will put it out , not in defence or to potray me as someone asking to be spared of any tirade, but I just believe that in years to come, I want the digital trail that accompanies all opinions in the digital space that cannot be wiped out to be met with a reaction from me.
This will enable anyone who cares to listen to know the other side, or in the least have the chance to have and know that another perspective exists, and then be in a position to make informed decision based on understanding of all sides of the divide or stay stuck to any twisted and blighted position of “all politicians are thesame”- an assertion that I differ on.
THE QUEST FOR DIFFERENT STANDARDS – BETWEEN FOLLOWERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
In anycase who owes anyone any explanation after all? In a society where followership do not want to be held by thesame standard that they want to hold their leaders by? A fe se ogun aferi fa’yan, a se tarinako fa’diye”
The so called refrain of critics is that we are in a dispensation where our politics is devoid of ideology which is blamed on politicians, would make one wonder if the followership can be held to any ideology? Other than their bellies most times?
The unfolding political dispensation has showed that Ideological posturing may not be a safest expression of the true identity of any party that anyone belongs, but indeed by what people DO WITH POWER, yes, in the past like minded people would most likely always gravitate in thesame direction, those who subscribe to same ideals or bounded by same interests would allign and come together. Well, those days seem to exist in distant past now. Whoever does not believe should look around.
But more than anything else, for me, in the light of the realities of today, it’s more of who an individual is and moreso by what they do in tangible terms with power, the impact they make and not what is mouthed! Talk is cheap! When individuals do right by the people, they then define the ideology and ideological bent of that political party. Then it won’t be posturing.
A Political party may try to appropriate the lofty pristine political ideals, have great ideologically driven manifestos on paper and marinate it with slogans that appeals to populism but what do the members do when they get to power beyond the political campaign for votes in the quest for power?
MOTIVES AND MOTIFS
Every human action is driven by motives or motifs, it could be noble, altruistic, or self serving and pecuniary. What we then do reveals our real identity or intentions.
As for me I want to humbly say I try to fit into the first category and my small, eighteen years political trajectory in what has become the APC is out there for anyone to see.
WHY I LEFT APC IN THE FIRST PLACE?
As I have said variously, and I won’t flog that now, I left the APC in June 2022, after seventeen years of weathering the preceding early tempestuous and stormy years alongside other compatriots all through the progenitor parties that eventually metamorphosed into APC.
I painfully had to quit because of one man, Dr Kayode Fayemi, pure and simple, who at that time had become a demagogue, and took delight in relishing and gloating in his demagoguery! He hugged the klieglights and all that comes with it.
He had become “benevolently” dictorial and his actions, in my perception had substantially eroded his self avowed claims to being a true democrat during his second term.
He chose and opted for alienation instead of communalism, the voice of reason had taken a flight and replaced with sycophancy and he had being turned to a god unto himself, and he liked that.
The above were consolidated by a combination of factors, the heavy drums sycophancy from his seemingly loyal tokantokan group within the party, the seeming adaptation or adoption of Mohammed Ali’s floating like a butterfly and sting like a bee prowess at the height of his boxing career, his new contact with Abuja, garnished by his emergence as Chairman Nigeria Governor’s forum, marinated by access to resources and power brokers , and the biting of the bait to be President Buhari’s annoited successor and the adopted child of Ahmadu Bello,to me this was not the Dr Kayode Fayemi I knew or thought I knew, having been acquainted with him since 1978 as secondary students, he was three years my senior!
I was labelled a deviant, demonised, typecasted as errant and coloured disloyal by people and party i had in my little way slaved out for all through my early years.
The environment had become noxious and toxic, I and so many people were struggling to breathe not only politically, i can almost say literally. We had become endangered species in our own party.
If Bimbo was cast in the belligerent mould, as they would want to spin, how come nearly ALL, and I mean nearly ALL the leading lights of the party from “get-go” , at inception, from our days as ACD/AD, AC, ACN until we metamorphosed into today’s APC are estranged with him and suffered this alienation, the difference was in dimension?
At that time in the party it was the reign of high handedness characterised by rash of “governor induced” suspension of anyone outside of the cronies ring, so for survival everyone got whipped in line with fake loyalty to high heavens.
The party became weaker, polarised, divided and the fabric of the party became threadbare by the day, the only binding chord was the desperation for survival, and they used that to the optimum.
During this second term of Dr Fayemi as Governor nearly all the leading lights had become outcasts!, check this list out, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Tony Adeniyi, whose hotel in Akure was our go to place in our days of lack, as a party we could not even pay for services , yet he availed our lawyers and witnesses accomondation and feeding all through! How else can anyone sacrifice ?
Till Gov fayemi left government, we were still exposed to that hotel i think, being carry over of hotel bills incurred over the period of our Gubernatorial case at the tribunal. Senator Tony AdeÅiyi became a bad man like others and so must be punished!
Honourable Oyetunde Ojo, used to drive Dr Fayemi’ around at different times during the uncertain days of struggle, Oye’s Toyota corolla came in handy for trips at different times, by the time he left government in his second term , they had become estranged, there are others who I will just want to save the hassle by not mentioning their names and situations, and there are a plethora of them .
So this was not Bimbo thingy.
APC WAS ALMOST MY RELIGION AFTER MY FAITH .
Back then, in the journey to today’s APC, for me after my Faith, it was the party APC, I lived it and was ever ready to give all to not only the party but for my then Oga, Dr Fayemi, our people and State.
OUR PARTY , THE APC , TO ME WAS THE ONLY ACCESS ROUTE AND SOLUTION TO OUR PEOPLE’S NEED FOR GOOD LIFE AGAIN, WITH MY OGA, DR FAYEMI AS THE ONE TO TAKE US THERE.
Our President, and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, interestingly was the grand commander of the opposition then, and i am one of the ardent foot soldiers.
At different times, he had supported me personally and our cause, to enable us continue in the struggle, he would give directions and instructions, and we carried them out to the letter, he was the epitome of conviction and he planted that grit and resilience in a lot of us, not only in Ekiti but anywhere where opposition needs a foot hold.
For the three years of struggle, from 2007 to 2010, I am one of the few who deployed resources out of our modest means to grow the progenitor parties.I gave everything at my disposal , and i mean everything to the party including putting my life on line!
A BIT OF THE PROFILE OF A PARTY MAN.
Right from the formative years, say 2004-2005, I recall I was always printing thousands of posters, that we pasted in Ado Ekiti and spread to the 16 LGs, to kick start every new progenitor party, from ACD, AC, ACN, the party excos from every where used to come to my father’s residence to take posters where we kept them, not my poster , but party’s posters.
At one our of the Ekiti North Senatorial rallies in Ido Ekiti, Former Governor of Ondo State and a foremost progressive in our state, Baba Evangelist Bamidele Ishola Olumilua, of blessed memory, called me out of a huge crowd unto the podium, and asked the huge crowd to point their hands at me and ordered them to pray for me because of the modest support I had been giving to the parties that evolved to become today’s APC, Chief Jide Awe, our chairman for twelve years was there alongside other leaders on that day.
That was in the days of our political adversity, we were a family, we bonded like gum on paper!
Much later in 2010, i was the party’s state agent at INEC, and also doubled up as candidate Kayode Fayemi’s person at the collation centre, during one of the court ordered rerun elections.
I spotted wuruwuru in the ballot papers , I caused that process to stop, and forced INEC and all agents of parties to write the serial numbers of all the ballot papers to be used for the election manually for accountability, we sat on thesame spot in INEC, it took almost 24hours !
Nothing must be left to chance and not to talk of the shamble election and attempt to declare the fake results.
I gave my all to the party like my life depended on it, all through in or out of position, even till as recent as when the then national chairman and leaders of the party came to Ekiti, led by Chief Oyegun, in 2018, and they were going to fit all of them into our small party secretariat with broken down fence at the time, I reasoned that it won’t make us look good as a party in Ekiti, I told the party not to announce my support and I made arrangements for the Uncle Day event centre that we used which was more benefiting, and i think with little refreshments
I have just cited these bits and pieces, and there are so so many more, that I can’t go into, for reasons of maturity and because it will make this post too long, already it is . I ll just stop at this.
LEAVING APC WAS NOT WHAT I COULD EVEN IMAGINE.. NEVER!
Suffice to say I was a die-hard APC man, everybody knew, even in the house of Representatives, under our minority leader then, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, where I deployed legislative activism to put the Federal Government on its toes at different times, i was the one that moved the motion that embarrassed the federal government during the militarisation of Adams Oshiomole, Edo State elections, where soldiers estimated to be 3500 were to be posted to Edo State, we reduced it to less than 600.
I guess on the account of these strident roles, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, invited and took an unknown me on a trip to Trinidad and Tobbago/ Jamaica in the Presidential plane for nine days to enable us bond ![ I told my Oga then, Dr Fayemi about the trip].
I know what I was asked to do, with very good incentives , I declined all because of my loyalty to the APC. The details may not be necessary here.
I have provided this little variegated background to give a sneak preview into how I laboured alongside others for the party, and by the grace of God , I can say that while Governor Fayemi was in office for Eight years , he can NOT SAY that I asked for any personal benefits, and I mean any pecuniary favour for myself, neither did he offer, instead I kept doing everything to make him and his government and our party look good and popular.
ANOTHER CLOSE SHAVE WITH DEATH IN THE COURSE OF OUR WELL BEING .
One time in the run up to Dr Fayemi’s second term election , where he happened to have appointed me as the Director General of the campaign[ this is another story in itself], without prodding or promoting ,i wanted to throw in my little mileage and whatever my little goodwill could count for to start the healing process, and to mitigate the negative consequences from the very sour relationship between our beloved teachers and Governor Fayemi, his administration, of course or by extension our party
I scheduled a meeting to host teachers under NUT and local government workers under NULGE , starting from my constituency.
I left Abuja a day before the scheduled date, when i got to Iyamoye, i received a call from one of my pastors who asked me where i was? I told him i was on my way to Ekiti, and i told him the purpose.
He told me to go back and pass the night in Kabba or anywhere where I may get a good hotel, and proceed the next day, I asked him why, he replied that what God showed him was scary , and i said i must proceed because i had scheduled meetings with leaders of NUT in Oye and Ikole LGAS for the next day.
He then said we should pray, we did and i proceeded.
Not quite 40 minutes later, a mercedes benz 190E drove into me at Ilasa Ekiti, all i heard was a deafening loud sound, by the time i was brought out, both the car of the man who hit me and my truck in fleeting minutes had become a wreck of themselves.
Most unfortunately , the gentleman who drove the Mercedes benz 190 died instantly. May his soul rest in peace.
My white Tundra jeep was so badly twisted and mangled that i did not see any reason to go back there to pick it from the Ilasa police station where they towed it to, it took me clear Six months as a member House of Representatives to fully pay for the vehicle I replaced it with, a car dealer had to give on payment plan.
Anyways all I am saying is that it will take a mad man to have put in all these efforts and decide to turn his back on a building that he was one of those who built from the first block !
Let me also put on record that between 2015 and 2022, I NEVER GOT ANY FORM OF PATRONAGE OR ANY PECUNIARY BENEFIT FROM EKITI STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NONE , NOTHING! YET I DID NOT LEAVE THE PARTY!!
Sometime in 2021 i think, Makinde Araoye called me , said Dr Fayemi asked him to collect my CV. I sent it to him. Several months later, i remember that it was on Senator Tony Adeniyi’s 70th birthday, I was in Akure for the event.
Governor Fayemi called me to ask if I would like to replace Hon.Arokodare at public complaints commission, I thanked him for the call and most politely declined, for a number of reasons, one the environment in Ekiti had become suffocatingly toxic, the fumes out of there was choking.
Secondly we had started Ekiti Stakeholders forum, and South West Agenda for Asiwaju [SWAGA] for President had begun so I saw it as a way to use that as divide and rule appointment to break our ranks, knowing how adversarial his government was to us and SWAGA, with several suspensions of all of us at different times.
I am a loyal person when it comes to what I believe in, if he meant well, why was he just remembering the Director General of his campaign for political appointment almost 6 years later?
As Hon. Minister, After he had put all sorts of people numbering up to 32 that he considered his people in positions, some of these people have nothing to show as service records in the party , not to now compare with me, to make it worse, he knows that I will have to be in Ekiti settling domestic quarrels between Wives and their husbands concubines.
And after settling the quarrels , I will be the one to give them transport fare and subsistence when they are going home. It was a trap! So I politely declined .
Over this period I was invited by four of my close friends and asked to come assist in holding the team together as Chief of Staff to Deputy Speaker at the 8th Assembly. They were just being gratuitous to a buddy and I remain grateful to them, but over
INSPITE OF ALL THESE , I DID NOT GET ANGRY , AND I DID NOT LEAVE THE PARTY.
TO THE CONTRARY I WAS STILL GETTING OUR PEOPLE JOBS AND DOING DIFFERENT EMPOWERMENTS , 8 YEARS AFTER I LEFT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AS A MEMBER.
PREVENTING ANOTHER JOURNEY TO DETENTION:
Let me cut the chase and not overflog these chronicles, fast forward to 2022 just before APC called for expression of interest for aspirants to national assembly positions.
Guided by the incident that happened to me in 2019, where I was detained by the police on the day of primary election, without any offence, there was no disorder or chaos, on the orders as Governor, I was arrested on the road, and taken to Police headquarters in Ado Ekiti. The then Commissioner of Police told me the day after that he acted on the Governor ‘s orders. I had to call Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and others to be able to secure my release by this time, it was evening.
So in 2022, i went to Governor Fayemi, to inform him of my intention to contest again for the House of Representatives seat according to the wishes of our people, he simply declined without any reason.
He again said he had made up his mind to give the seat to the incumbent, from the local government, I.e Ikole LGA making it 12 years unbroken of one local government against the other i.e Oye LGA, also a disregard for the headstart advantage of a returning member which he says he believes in among other reasons.
THE INTERVENTION OF EMINENT PERSONALITIES, PARTISAN AND NON PARTISAN IN THE MATTER.
I got in touch with over 18 eminent personalities across Nigeria to intervene in this matter in 2022, [ i will hide their names till my book is out] just as i did in 2019, they met him and spoke to him about me, my service record in the party, our past years etc , my little record when I had the opportunity of representing our people in the house of Representatives, Governor Fayemi still declined.
THE LAST STRAW.- THE LAST MEETING .
The camel’s š« back was broken at our last meeting, where Nze Chidi Duru, represented the then National Secretary of the party , Apesin Iyiola Omisore, at whose instance the party held.
He again reiterated that he had made up his mind , and added .. “we will find Bimbo something “.. i was broken š¢ š and i said to myself after 7 years? , I am not born a coward, and i made up my mind to face it even if I fail, I knew what I was up against from day one and the die was cast.
That evening , as i walked out of his Abuja home, the comment from him kept ringing in my head and it drained me out and I made up my mind to go elsewhere to contest, and ready for the worst, this was what nearly estranged me and Governor Abiodun Oyebanji.
When I met my team across the state , one said , Oga se e ro pe APC le si wa bayi? Ta le le fun ni note , ki won da lohun ni ijoba won yi? Meaning, Oga do you still think we are seen and taken as members of APC ? If you give anyone of us a note to anywhere or anyone, will they honour it? We are not seen as tokantokan, the group that believes no other party people should have an idea, aspiration or anything different from Oga.
I was broken, after all our years of sacrifice and forbearance in the party , the aggregate of the sacrifices, that of our supporters who had been totally sidelined if not excommunicated from the party.
So i and my people arrived at the decision to leave, it was a tough decision, but had to be taken for our sanity and I said it’s OK for those who do not feel convinced to go with me to remain behind.
Some agreed , some did not and I wished them well. We joined SDP, and I am grateful to the party for giving me that platform at the time, i believe my progressive credentials is not conferred by the political party i belong to, its in me. Its who I am.
Well, we went to the election and the people chose who they wanted under whatever guise it was, we lost and I returned to my shell and happy that I expressed myself and the people knew I tried and as i quit no one will say I abandoned them.
THE ROUTE BACK TO APC
Fastrack to 3 months ago, a lot of people, highly placed and others started broaching the idea that I should return to APC and I said to them, i am done , even with politics not to talk of membership of any political party, granted the experience from the party that we built and where I was kept in chains till I left.
I politely declined satisfied that my life is God’s hands.
Some people could not wait for me to finish the general election..everytime they talked, it was about coming back and it would hurt me so bad because the pictures of the past would keep flooding my thoughts, and it will hurt me so bad.
Because at this time, a lot of people had been induced, coerced, instigated or cajoled to malign me and throw muck at my person and character in order to keep themselves in the good books of Governor Fayemi, his cronies and his government.
They became attack dogs , some kept mute, others looked away and played safe, they kept their distances, they won’t be bold enough to be seen around me ,some of these, were party people that God had used me to be there for them in their testy moments when nobody was to the glory of God.
They ran away from been seen around me, not wanting to be collateral casualties
I took all in my stride and moved on.
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD .
I believe in God who said He is committed to feed little sparrows , and I believe he is mindful of me and my life is secure in His hands.
Eight years without political patronage or any position, i did not miss a meal, except by choice, i did not starve, i had good clothes on my body, and lived a moderately modest life as i want, but all the time i think about my numerous supporters, whose mortal sin was their association with Bimbo, that i struggle to be there for..etc
In all God has been faithful, God has kept me and giving inroads to opportunities even outside. So no desperation in that personal sense.
To God be the glory
THE BEACONS ..
Inspite of my decision to simply walk away not only from APC but politics, the well meaning people kept coming, and my defences caved in the day, when one of them said, look at all these people that your decision will affect, how much of resources is available to you to keep your people, these innocent people who have remained with you for survival , how many of your people can you service from your business earnings? since you can take care of yourself.
I swear to God this broke me down knowing that this is so true, its been what I had been grappling with, as for me my needs and wants are very modest, but i think about my people particularly those who have suffered because of their identification with me, i am mindful that one day these people will not only see me as a selfish man but a user and a wicked man!š
We have been on this back and fro for a while and for some reason, when Governor Abiodun Oyebanji was elected, it was a breath of cleaner air.
In furtherance of his healing and recovery shuttles, having met with a number of estranged people also reached out , I am a relationship freak, I have been very close friends with Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, for more that three decades, I call him Abbey City, he calls me Awe or Ore !
When the establishment wanted us back on the campaign in 2018, it was the then Biodun Oyebanji [ now Governor] only that they called to break the ice, and he was with me for 3hours and ultimately brokered that discussion meeting between me and Governor Fayemi,for hours, [ thats another story for another day]
We attended same University, We were both in the strategy team of Governor fayemi for 7 years , without pay, it was part of our dedicated service, this was even before Dr Fayemi became Governor in his first term and through his first term, we met at least once month, we were just 10 or 11 in that committee. We served selflessly and devotedly.
Before then , my Egbon and leader , Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele [MOB] CON had kept hitting at this same chord , and i kept on steam rolling because I felt the environment had become so fouled and toxic and it was asyphixiating for me.. I could not breath.. I just wanted out permanently.
My friend Governor Umar Bago kept on saying Congressman don’t leave your house. After election , ” I go tie you rope ” he would say, we were a tact team back then , i of ACN stock and him of CPC extraction, when we came into the house of Representatives in 2011 until the merger that brought us to All Progressives Congress [APC].
The indefatigable Party Chairman, Barr. Omotosho was also doing his contact remotely.
Anyways , if by one man’s indiscretion challenges came, by one man’s chastity errors can also be obliterated, that’s what the Bible says, if one man made sure that he won’t let us breath, there came along men who tried to sustain our breath..
It is in the light of the above that it became practically impossible to keep my walls up , lest one come across as thinking too much of oneself, proud and haughty , or coming across as selfish, it was against these realities that the wall of my resistance to return came crashing down yesterday in Ire Ekiti.
I am not a political mariner, neither a political wanderer or given to philandering.
I with all humility have a record of unbroken Eighteen years of dedicated, evidence backed and proofs laden commitment to the people , party and consistency in politics inspite of temptating offers, when the future was so break, and uncertain, and I was unshaken and remained in one party, until this last year, I believe these years and works should define me more than one year of situation led hiatus.
There was no iota or element of crass opportunism in the direction that the wind blew me over the last one year and neither with my return to a place we jointly built and worked for.
PROFOUND APPRECIATION.
I want to express my profound gratitude and evergreen appreciation to the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E Abiodun Oyebanji, for the clear demonstration of the defining qualities that great leaders are known for, i.e to be very introspective and reflective, in reaching out to old time guys, and seeking to get them back toward restoring relationships, mine being one, among many, thank you so much. Mr Gov.
May God continue to imbue you with more wisdom.
I am also very grateful for all you have done to bring us back , by the grace of God , we will continue in our little and modest ways, in our little corner from now that we are back to see that the party lives us to its identity.
We shall do our bit to support of your administration to succeed very well here at home, in Ekiti as best possible but also that the President, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, suceed, so as to justify his visionary leadership steeped in opposition over decades.
My dear Egbon and Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Sir, I want to say a very very big thank you Sir, for your practical interest in this matter and desire for speedy resolution. I appreciate you most sincerely..
Your Excellency Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago ! I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done in this regard .
Thank you for looking out for me, thank you for keeping faith with our relationship. May Almighty Allah Bless You. Allah ja zammane ka.
My gratitude also goes to Senators Tony Adeniyi, Uncle Dayo Adeyeye, Honourable Oyetunde Ojo, I am very grateful š for your encouragement at different times . E see gaann
My own indefatigable Chairman, and Brother , Barrister Paul Omotosho, State Chairman APC, Sir you are phenomenal, your mental acuity, your truthful recollections and your intervention at different times , thank you so very much. I am very grateful Sir.
Last but not the least our leaders in APC , From the State, to Local Government, Oga Olooye, the chairman, our Ward chairmen and all our party faithful, I am so so grateful to you, e see gaan, the reception that you extended to this return is very humbling, someone said it feels like I left five years ago.. I am humbled by all these very gracious words and expressions š
My wish, desire and Prayer is that God in his infinite mercies will bless us all, help us and guide us through our life’s journeys, to be in touch with our realities as ordinary mortals that we are , and above all to be mindful of how we deploy our fleeting relevance and the privileges that comes with it. “Igba la nlo..enikan o le lo le aye gbo”
And so the political career that has spanned eighteen years, from the legacy parties of ACD,AC,ACN and APC, baked in three years of HARD and life threatening struggles, as a key member of the leading opposition, then waded through the pains and trials of building a movement to even get ACN/APC government of our dear state, to being a dye in wool and committed progressive in serving our people as Member of Parliament for four years, then eight years of being deliberately marooned and fettered, leading to an exit from the house we built together for a year, i have returned according to His will primarily to continue in the unending commitment to the advancement of and pursuit of a better society and better life for us all, which I believe is what the APC stands for particularly under Governor Abiodun Oyebanji here in Ekiti and President Bola Tinubu GCFR at the centre.
To all those behind this come back, I say thank you all.
God bless BAO, H.E Biodun Oyebanji , our Governor,
God bless Distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele CON, Majority Leader, Senate of the Federal Republic
God bless the Governor , Niger State, H.E Umaru Bago
God bless Ekiti State APC Chairman, Barrister Paul Omotosho š
God bless the EXCOs from all the 177 wards, 16 LGAs, and 3 Senatorial Districts and all the way to the state.
God bless all APC members, Ekiti State, and Federal.
I cannot end this without sending my special gratitude to all well meaning persons and groups from Ire Ekiti, my home town, for your support and for standing by and with me, regardless of party affliation, particularly all of you who showed up in great numbers yesterday, both from Oye, Ikole and across Ekiti State, not forgetting all those who reached out to me, in Calls, SMS, WHATSAPP messages that poured in torrents , i want to say thank you so very much.
E see gaanii.
One chapter in our political journey just closed, and another one just opened as we turn a new page of a new chapter together in our shared aspiration for a better society for all.
May God guide us allš
This is my story .
Yoursz
Congressman Bimbo Daramola
29th July, 2023.
Ire Ekiti.
#bimboEkiti
#nitoriojoolawa