Fifteen years ago, when Michael Opeyemi Bamidele first stepped onto the political stage in Ekiti State and announced his intention to represent Ekiti Central FederalConstituency 1, critics labeled him an outsider—“Ekiti abroad”—who would exploit the system and disappear. Their skepticism stemmed from his well-known track record of public service in Lagos, where he had spent a decade serving in various roles.
Since 2011, Bamidele has proven his dedication to Ekiti’s progress through a series of meaningful interventions. Early in his first term, he quickly became a key figure at the National Assembly, known for his thoughtful and well-informed contributions. Ironically, the same Lagos experience that initially raised doubts turned out to be an asset, equipping him to offer Ekiti a strong voice at the center. For years, particularly between 1999 and 2011, many in the Ekiti elite worried that the state wasn’t fielding its most capable representatives—especially when compared to states like Adamawa, which produced figures such as Jubril Aminu, Iya Abubakar, and Jonathan Zwingina.
Unshaken by doubts, Bamidele—popularly known as MOB—pressed on with resolve and a deep sense of his persuasive eloquence, he engaged his people, making a clear case that his mission was to come and serve, not to exploit. At a Senatorial District meeting in Aramoko Ekiti Civic Center in October 2010, he declared: “I am a true Ekiti son and proud of my roots. Born in Iyin-Ekiti and raised partly in Ilawe, my bonds with Ekiti run deep. I’m here to make a difference, not just in lives but in the broader development of our state.” Six months later, in April 2011, he was elected into the 7th National Assembly as the representative for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1.