By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Opeyemi Bamidele, on his election as Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum.
The Governor also congratulated Senator Stella Oduah, Anambra North, who emerged Vice Chairman of the Forum, as well as other new officials elected on Wednesday.
Governor Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, in Ado Ekiti on Thursday said he was particularly happy at Senator Bamidele’s emergence, adding that he was convinced that the Ekiti Senator would bring his wealth of experience, dynamism and deep understanding of the Nigerian polity to bear on the new assignment.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) who described Senator Bamidele as a brilliant politician and seasoned administrator, said he looked forward to more strategic collaboration with the Southern Senators Forum, under the new leadership.
Dr Fayemi said democratic institutions in the country would perform better in their developmental roles, with the right leadership in place.
“Senator Bamidele’s pragmatic and dynamic leadership would be a plus to the Forum.
“And I am convinced that his touch of excellence would increase the impact of the Forum in our collective effort at nation building”, Governor Fayemi added.
Also, Ekiti state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) described the election of senator Bamidele as a right step.
The party, in a statement by the PRO, Mr Ade Ajayi, stated that “since his election to the red chamber, senator Bamidele has proved himself to be someone who knows what he has come to do at the red chamber.
“The quality of his bills, coupled with his reforms at the judiciary, in his capacity as chairman house committee on judiciary, has left noone in doubt as to his commitment and doggednes to ensure the survival of democracy in the country.
“The APC is equally happy that people from his federal constituency have been enjoying his robost representation at the senate as he is always in touch with them.”
The party expressed the hope the senator Bamidele will use his wealth of experience to rally his colleagues in the southern part of the country to ensure that the geo political zone does not lack behind in the scheme of things at the federal level.
It also admonished the lawmaker to always display the qualities of a typical Ekiti man among which are total commitment and openess in all his endeavours.
