Ekiti 2014: Plot to destabilise Ekiti APC thickens as Bamidele Meets Mimiko
Operatives of the State Security Service on Monday arrested an aide of the House of Representatives’ member and governorship aspirant, Opeyemi Bamidele, in connection with the foiled rally by the latter last Thursday.
No official reason was given for the arrest of Bamidele’s aide, Chief Remi Oguntuase, by the SSS.
Meanwhile, the botched rally has been described as one of Bamidele’s plot to destabilise All Progressives Congress (APC ) in Ekiti State ahead of the 2014 poll before his exit to join the Labour Party, the platform on which he intends to run for Governorship.
According to a source close to the Governor of Ondo State Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the ill-timed rally was one of the steps agreed to be carried out by Bamidele in a meeting with “His Excellency and Our Party (Labour Party) National Chairman in Akure last week, the meeting which Bamidele was in attendance ”
The source who pleaded not to be named said “a 3 pronged approach was agreed” as a destabilisation tactics against the APC in Ekiti State.” She opines that once the party is in disarray members loyal to Bamidele will feel their leader is being victimised, “ordinarily they will follow him wherever he goes”
NigerianEcho’s independent findings show that Bamidele was in Akure last week for some political meetings with friends and loyalists. However, it can not be ascertained if he met Governor Mimiko who incidentally met with Chief Iwanyanwu the national Chairman of the party.
Ekiti has enjoyed considerable peace since Dr. Kayode Fayemi became the Governor of the State. The peace was shaken to it’s foundation by the rally when hoodlums and thugs took over the streets & markets in Ekiti.
An APC leader in Iwaraja, Ekiti state said Bamidele’s plot is evil and smacks a character of a very desperate person all in a bid to get power at the xpense of peace of his people. He further lamented how Bamidele has allowed external people to control his ambition despite his experience and pedigree.
The arrest of Bamidele’s aide is said to be connected to the ill-timed rally which is contrary to INEC’s directives of “No Political campaign rally until 90days to election.”
One of Bamidele’s supporters however said the move by SSS was to intimidate Bamidele’s supporters in view of the “popular” support given to the lawmaker during the rally. He said six SSS operatives went to Oguntuase’s residence located at Onigari, GRA, in Ado Ekiti on Monday at about 10:30am.
“They held about 10 residents of the house hostage for almost 40 minutes, while the operation lasted.”
Bamildele is currently aspiring on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, the party which rules Ekiti at the moment.
Party leaders including the National Chairman chief Bisi Akande and the national leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened and insisted that Dr. Fayemi should be allowed to serve his second term since he has performed considerably well and he has worked tirelessly in tandem with the party’s manifestos. Ekiti APC has equally endorsed Fayemi as the party’s flag bearer in the forth coming gubernatorial election.
