SAN FRANCISCO, October 22, (THEWILL) – All may not well in the camp of the opposition in the House of Representatives as the Ekiti Caucus Leader, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has announced his resignation to enable him prepare for the 2014 governorship election in the state.
It will be recalled that the lawmaker was earlier this year suspended by his colleagues on the alleged prompting of the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, but was later recalled on the orders of the National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu .
Bamidele’s insistence to contest the 2014 Governorship election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is causing ripples in the party and has unsettled the camp of the governor.
In a letter to the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and copied to the National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Opeyemi said he could no longer tarry in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people in the state.
The letter dated October 22 and titled ” Resignation as Ekiti Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives,” reads in part:
“I hereby resign with immediate effect, my appointment as the leader of admitting State Caucus in the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This resignation has become a cogent and compelling step for me to take at this time to enable me pursue, by the special grace and uncommon favour of Almighty God, my aspiration to be Governor of Ekiti State by the year 2014 based on my personal conviction and in response to the popular demand and clarion call of well-meaning Ekiti sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora who believe that our dear State needs a critical intervention at this time so as not to become a failed State.
“I can no longer tarry in responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the violated children, the deserted youth, the disillusioned women, the unfulfilled civil and public servants, the neglected artisans, the jobless and underemployed men as well as the heart broken elder statesmen and frustrated founding fathers who genuinely desire to see the emergence of a rallying point ( across political and ideological divides) that would herald in a new and united Ekiti State where our past glory will be brought back from sabbatical ; where integrity and strength of character, which is the hallmark of Ekiti personality, will be celebrated again; and where job creation, food security, law and order, as well as infrastructure and human capital development with high premium in health and education will be the utmost priority as the minimum agenda for good governance in compliance with global best practice standard.”
By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
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