Ekiti 2018: MOB Staged The Mother Of All Declaration In Ado-Ekiti By Ahmed Salami

The 7th March, 2018 governorship declaration of Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (M.O.B) turned out to be the mother of declaration with the massive participation of the people who came from the 16 local government areas of the State.

At the event which took place in Ado- Ekiti, several thousands of well wishers, political associates and supporters of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele joined him to make a strong political statement which showcased the general acceptability and popularity of Hon. Bamidele among the good people of Ekiti State.

The declaration activity came up by two O'clock at the APC State secretariat but the main icing of the cake was marked by the rally staged by from the Iyin- Ekiti country home of Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele to Ado Ekiti, through Bashiri area, Fajuyi Park, Okesha, Ojumoshe, Okeyinmi quarters and Ajilosun area where the APC State secretariat is located.

The massive crowd which attended the occasion was not only intimidating but was equally captivating. In the midst of the thick crowd were traditional dancers, masquerades, market women, youths, artisans, students, professionals and grassroot politicians who did not hesitate to demonstrate their strong conviction and commitment to the actualization of Hon. Bamidele's dream to govern Ekiti State.

During the rally, Hon. Bamidele beat the imagination of the people as he choose to mount the motorcade and showcase himself to the mass of the people unlike the usual practice in which some political gladiators would prefer to confine themselves to the comfort of their luxury SUV vehicles in political activities of such magnitude, thereby exhibiting their folly by isolating themselves from the people.

One very interesting thing about M.O.B's mega declaration was the apparent non-involvement of star artistes and entertainers. M.O.B Campaign Team was of the opinion that Ekiti people themselves should be allowed to steal the show and be the super stars of the event. Except for local dancers and Ekiti cultural ambassadors who added grace, fun and candour to the occasion, M.O.B declaration stood out as a strong political statement with less emphasis on side attractions.

M.O.B Team was convinced there was no need to bring ace musicians and entertainers to rent crowd for Michael Opeyemi Bamidele  (MOB)'s declaration.

Eventually, the massive turn out of Ekiti electorate at the event spoke for itself and strongly corroborated the wise decision of the campaign team not to involve star artistes for the time being. To them, the declaration event was the first major political engagement with the mass of Ekiti people and it was a test of popularity and an exhibition of the general acceptability of M.O.B among Ekiti people.

Going by the countenance of the people at the scene of the rally, it was very obvious that M.O.B is well loved by Ekiti people as much as he is well favoured by God. In spite of the scorching effect of the bright sun, thousands of supporters and well wishers  trecked all the way from Bashiri area of ADO-EKITI to the APC State Party Secretariat in Ajilosun with immense joy and profound ectasy.

In fact, it was an eyesore as the scene of the rally depicted the arrival of the proverbial 'messiah' the 'liberator' and the 'deliverer'. The abysmal poverty profile among Ekiti people as well as the attendant mass unemployment among the graduates and young school leavers,   the huge infrastructural deficit across the state  and the pathetic living standards among the people readily attest to the simple fact that Ekiti is in dire need of a leader with exemplary character and wealth of experience to transform the lives of the people and restore the glory of the State from sabbatical.

M.O.B is eminently qualified and prepared for the onerous task to rescue Ekiti people from the pains and pangs of poverty. He has the requisite intellectual depth, international exposure, professional expertise and political savvy to lead Ekiti out of the doldrums.

The climax of the declaration event was marked by the public presentation of M.O.B's manifesto by himself. The policy document which was titled "KEEPING HOPE ALIVE": Ekiti Growth and Development Blueprint" itemized in concrete terms the proposed areas of major intervention by Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele which include massive employment generation, free and qualitative education up to secondary school level, quality health services and free care services for infants, pregnant women, and the aged, rapid infrastructural development, rapid industrialization, agricultural revolution, solid mineral exploration and production as well as human capacity development.

The presentation of the manifesto was greeted with a loud applause by the leaders of the All Progressives Congress  (APC) at the venue of the declaration.