It appears the legendary English poet and pre-eminent William Shakespeare (1564-1616), who first succinctly captured the picture of mankind’s aspiration towards greatness and its science had Michael Opeyemi Bamidele in mind when he said: “Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” As Bamidele clocks 53 on 29th July, a lot of issues around greatness, failure and determination to achieve either of the two even in the face of daunting challenges may have again be thrown up; albeit in the conviviality of celebration of life of an achiever.
At the end of this little editorial exercise, I hope I should have left my readers with the liberty of rightly situating Bamidele in the anal of history as to where he belongs within Shakespeare’s categorizations of great men. The current Head and Principal Attorney of Opeyemi Bamidele and Associates with offices in Abuja and Lagos was born on 29th July, 1963 to the family of Pa Stephen and Madam Tinuola Bamidele of Iyin Ekiti. The fact that he arose from a typical African agrarian family background typical of Ekiti peasant farm life was not enough to dampen his spirit to excel where others failed.
Like average teens of his time faced with series of limitations, Bamidele however waded through similitude of the era. He embraced dint of hardwork, resilience and focus to get to where he is he today. Though my oga, but I still jokingly refer to him as “a village boy”, apparently because his background. Not minding that my so-called “village boy” has seen four walls of great universities around the world and visited all the continents on earth including Antarctica; perhaps, in search of greatness.
This rare and uncanny fire of greatness saw him to then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he bagged a first degree in Humanities before moving to University of Benin for a degree in Law. In the twilight of 1990s, what stood Brother Ope, (as he is fondly called) out was his exploit at University of Benin where in 1989 he emerged as the National President of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. At such a tender age, Bamidele undertook the onerous task of leading hundreds of thousands of Nigerian students both in negotiations and disagreements with the headship of military government of that season. Vividly, I still remember with nostalgia, how his contemporaries at UNIBEN then, who are equally my egbons would regale us with his brilliance and dedicated patriotism to students’ welfares. They are the likes of Mr Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State and Dr. Sunday Popoola, a surgeon of repute and another proud son of Ikere Ekiti, my hometown just like the SAN himself.
The next few years would see Bamidele out of Nigeria. He sought protection in the God’s own country, following onslaught of the military junta against social crusaders and men at the left of the center like him. While in United States, he saw another opportunity in the military brigandage that pervaded the Nigerian political space then to pursue a Master of Law in world-famous Franklin Pierce Law Center, (University of New Hampshire Law School) in Concord, Hampshire.
From there, the rest is history. History of patriotism in the face of distractions, humility in the face of greatness, and uncommon thoroughness in the face of everyday speed of life. A personality that is rare to come by now, especially in the current Nigerian political cycle where friendships and moral values are easily lost. Right from the days of Social Democratic Party in 1992 where he first made attempts to represent the good people of Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency of Lagos, to his recently concluded stewardship as a federal lawmaker from in National Assembly, Bamidele has always demonstrated a streak of putting public interest ahead of self.
His personal character may not be farfetched from why he maintained a clean record in Lagos government where he served as a Commissioner for eight years and Special Adviser to the Governor for another four years. Today, many Nigerians believe there’s something sterling about this astute politician which has endeared him to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, running to three decades now. This is aside his completion of the popular Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, as a Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development under the governorship of Asiwaju himself. Later as Commissioner for Information under Raji Babatunde Fashola, now Minister of Power, Works and Housing; Bamidele did exceedingly well. He opened up all channels of information dissemination around policies and strategies of Lagos State Government. Of remarkable feat was how he launched the Lagos State-owned LTV frequency to DSTV, making it the first state TV station to be on such a global satellite.
While at the National Assembly as a member of House of Representatives, Bamidele pioneered the House Committee on Media, thereby making him the mouthpiece of the House from 2011 and a delight to every hardworking journalist covering the parliament. His office was often beehive of activities both for his colleague lawmakers and staff alike. In his style, Bamidele would do everything to ensure that journalists are well informed about activities of the House by picking their calls even at odd hours. Even out of the Assembly, the man still enjoys considerable supports from reporters whenever he has an event either in Abuja or Lagos. This is traceable to the respect he gives to these men of the pen profession and his understanding of media relations and management over the years.
Recently, a similar scenario played out when the leadership of APC recently called upon Bamidele to chair the Edo State APC Primary Appeal Committee, an assignment described as very sensitive by the National Chairman of the Party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, hence Bamidele’s pedigree. But on daily basis, reporters would storm venue of the Committee sitting in Abuja, almost over reporting what was meant to be an indoor session. On the ground that Bamidele is their own man and that they would stop at nothing to stand by him whether in or out of office. At the end of the assignment, a report of which had also been endorsed by the National Working Committee of the APC; Oyegun remarked that Bamidele’s Committee enjoyed massive media coverage. For us, we understand what it means for Nigerian journalists to have almost passed a vote of confidence on a Nigerian politician based on mutual relationship and social dispositions.
As I join many Nigerian politicians, journalists, lawyers, businessmen, students and family members in wishing him another happy birthday in good health and goodwill, it is my personal prayer that God will continue to fortify you with required wisdom to lead your array of supporters and well-wishers across Ekiti your birthplace, Lagos your home base and Nigeria, a country I know is dear to your heart. It is also my wish that the grace that has taken you this far sees you through your long and short-time plans for mankind. Happy hearty 53rd birthday to a true leader and a detribalized Nigerian.
Jegede, a Public Affairs Commentator, writes from Abuja and can be reached on: jeggs1000@yahoo.com and 08032505705.
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