Michael Opeyemi Bamidele CON (born 29 July 1963) popularly known as MOB, is a Nigerian lawyer, human right activist, and politician who is currently serving as the majority leader of the Nigerian Senate since 2023.[1] He has represented Ekiti Central senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate since 2019.[2][3][4]
Michael Opeyemi Bamidele | |
|---|---|
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir |
| Senator for Ekiti Central | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Fatimat Raji-Rasaki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1963 Iyin Ekiti, Western Region, Nigeria (now in Ekiti State) |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
Early life
editBamidele was born on 29 July 1963, at Iyin Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria into the family of the late Sir Stephen Ogunjuyigbe Bamidele but spent his early life in Lagos State where he attended Baptist Academy secondary school and then Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in religious studies.[5] Bamidele later attended the University of Benin where he received a bachelor's degree in law in 1990. Having graduated from the Nigerian Law School, he was called to the bar in 1992.[6]
Bamidele proceeded to Franklin Pierce University where he received a master's degree in law and was called to the New York Bar in January 1999. He was one of the defence counsel, led by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi to the Moshood Abiola on his treason trial.[7]
Political life
editIn June 1992, he contested in the primary elections to the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the platform of Social Democratic Party but lost.[8] He served as special assistant on legal matters to Senator Bola Tinubu until November 1993 when Nigeria's democracy was truncated by the General Sanni Abacha.[9]
In July 2000, he was appointed senior special assistant on political and intergovernmental relations to the Lagos State governor.[10]
He was later appointed as commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development in governor Bola Tinubu's administration. In April 2011, he was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly to represent Ekiti Central federal constituency 1. In March 2015, in his article entitled: “My hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”, criticized the released of The Lion of Bourdilion, a documentary film aired by Africa Independent Television on March 1, 2015, and the role played by the opposition party, in the release of the controversial film.[11]
Previous Offices
edit- MHR (June 2011 to June 2015).[12]
- Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State (July 2007 to February 2011).[12]
- Honourable Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development, Lagos State (July 2003 to May 2007)[12]
- Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Lagos State (July 2000 to May 2003).[12]
Awards and honours
edit- Fellow, Chattered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) [13]
- In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[14]
References
edit- ^ Olufemi, Damilola (4 July 2023). "FULL LIST: 10th Senate principal officers". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Stakeholders seek copyright law reform". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 20 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ "Opeyemi Bamidele wins Ekiti Senatorial seat - P.M. News". Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Bamidele's 2014 gov posters flood Ekiti". The Punch News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Ekiti 2014: X-Raying The Village Boy Michael Opeyemi Bamidele". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Opeyemi Bamidele resign as Ekiti Caucus leader". www.thegazellenews.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Why Ekiti LP backs Buhari/Osinbajo". The Sun News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Nigeria: My Hatred for Tinubu". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Opeyemi Bamidele". Vanguard News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Opeyemi Bamidele Returns from the Cold". Thisdaylive. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "My hatred for Tinubu, by Bamidele". The Nation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Home". Nassnig Legal Service. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper". 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
Notes
edit- ^ Abaribe was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
- ^ Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.
- ^ Akpan was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the YPP in July 2022.
- ^ The PDP's Ekpenyong was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal partially annulled the results and called a supplementary election in the affected areas. Ekpenyong won the ensuing rerun election and was sworn-in again in January 2020.
- ^ Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021 before returning to the PDP in April 2022.
- ^ Jika was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in June 2022.
- ^ Bulkachuwa was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in November 2022.
- ^ Gumau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022.
- ^ The PDP's Douye Diri was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
- ^ The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
- ^ a b In April 2022, Adamu and Kyari resigned from the Senate after taking APC party offices the month prior.
- ^ The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both initial court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.
- ^ Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.
- ^ Alimikhena was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
- ^ The APC's Adedayo Clement Adeyeye was elected senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.
- ^ Onyewuchi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the LP in June 2022.
- ^ Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.
- ^ Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.
- ^ Shekarau was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August 2022.
- ^ Babba Kaita was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in April 2022.
- ^ Aliero was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in May 2022.
- ^ Abdullahi was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the PDP in June 2022.
- ^ The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.
- ^ The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
- ^ Akwashiki was elected as a member of the APC but switched to the SDP in July 2022.
- ^ The APC's David Umaru was elected senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him senator. He took office in July 2019.
- ^ Balogun was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in May 2022.
- ^ The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.
- ^ The APC's Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal was elected senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Abdullahi Danbaba. He took office in November 2019 as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in April 2022.
- ^ Bwacha was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in February 2022.
- ^ a b c Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Hassan Muhammed Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021. In February 2022, Muhammed Gusau resigned to become Zamfara Deputy Governor.