….. As Senate Leader Commissions Digital Library, other Projects in Ekiti
The Ekiti State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has reiterated that all he can do is to say thank you to the Senate Leader representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele for his immense contributions to the development of Ekiti State.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the digital library built and donated to Ekiti State Government by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele in Ado Ekiti on Friday, 26th July, 2024, the governor said the gesture is so enormous that he cannot but thank the Senate Leader so much and prayed that God will continue to honour him.
Quoting from the biblical injunction the Governor said, “sweet is the memory of the righteous and this is in fulfilment of that bible passage. Mine is just to say thank you to Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and I am extremely grateful for this honour you has done to our dear State and I pray that you will continue to be honoured in the name of God.”
The Governor noted further that he has been fully informed that the Senate Leader has more than ten projects on going in Ekiti Central Senatorial District having already commissioned four of the projects but, the digital library is very critical and dear to his heart because of the passion at which the Executive Secretary of Ekiti State Library board, Mrs Yemisi Adeleye pleaded for a befitting library that can match the status of the State noted as Fountain of Knowledge which prompted him to promise her that, no matter what it is going to cost, he will look for the money and build the library.
“I consulted the Senate Leader later that I am looking for money because, we have been discussing before that what can he do, and I now told him that one thing that is dear to me is the public library, is it possible for him to build one for me?. He said he was already building one and he would give it to the State after completion. We came their with the Executive Secretary and since we brought her there, she did not allow us to rest. Because of this woman’s passion, I made up my mind that we have to complete this place on time.” The Governor said.
While speaking on the importance of the library, the governor said the library is not just only the building or ordinary library but a digital library capable of serving the people in different capacities as all the books are digital and also, there are some that are not which can be rented. He promised the Senate Leader that, by the time he comes back he will hardly recognize the library because he is ready to give all it takes to make sure it serves it’s purpose.
The Governor appealed to the students and whoever that will be using the library to be diligent and maintain the existing standard of the library saying this will gladden the heart of the late Bishop Michael Oloniyo whom the magnificent library was named after.
“His joy will be to see people coming there to use the library, acquiring knowledge to develop themselves. The greatest legacy you can give to anybody is knowledge, the facility is free, all the books are digital and also, there are some that are not digital, you can come there, read and also rent but you must return all books that you rent.” The Governor said.
The Governor reinstated further that what the Senate Leader has demonstrated and the message to Ekiti Is, for a people or a State to develop, there is need for peace, there is need for collaboration, there is need for mutual respect for each other. He said, what has happened is possible when there is an alignment between those at the State level and the representatives at the federal level, saying further that same cordiality he enjoyed in the federal level is also being demonstrated at the State House of Assembly in Ekiti.
He appealed to the Senate Leader that whatever he deemed fit that he can do to elevate and sustain other senatorial districts in the state, he should go ahead and do it without minding what some people are saying or insinuating as long as it doesn’t against the procurement law because, they have both made up their minds to serve Ekiti people.
In his word, “don’t mind what anybody will say, just do it to serve Ekiti people”. The Governor said he wants all Ekiti people to benefit from Opeyemi Bamidele now that he is the Senate Leader”.
In his remark, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele having appreciated God saw the gesture as giving back to his community who counted him worthy to be trusted by voting for him again to represent them at the Senate which gave him that grace to be elected as the Senate Leader in the House of Senate.
Describing the personality of his mentor, the late Bishop Oloniyo who he named the library after and who he said he met in 1976 when he was admitted into Egba Owode Grammar School in Ogun State, where he was the school principal,
the Senate Leader said, Oloniyo instilled a lot of discipline in him and other people who were privileged to school under his tutelage saying he didn’t spare the cane.
“He flogged like no man did. I can’t remember any teacher who flogged more than the late Bishop Oloniyo. He was not only a school principal but also a class teacher. He’s someone I have a lot of honour and respect for, and someone to whom I owe a lot of gratitude as a mentor. I am personally happy today that somehow, I have found a way to recognise our father and it’s really my pleasure to handover the facility to the State”. Said the distinguished Senator.
The Senate Leader of the tenth National Assembly, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, also pointed out that, he doesn’t have intention to run for governorship in the State in 2026.
The Senator made this known again on Friday while inaugurating the public e-library he built for the State which he named after his former school principal, late Bishop Gabriel Oloniyo in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
“I have said it in good faith. It’s about our people who are hungry and need all the help. It’s about the people who are underemployed. It’s about the progress of the State. I chose to form a partnership that I know in the eight years with BAO governorship will take the State to a greater height. I am sorry if I offended anyone”. Bamidele said.
While delivering her speech, the State Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi said she’s really encouraged by the inspirational leadership and generosity of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, saying the best gift is the gift that is meeting a need. She said the library is meeting a need.
Describing the library as a gift for generation, she thanked the donor on behalf of the people of Ekiti State particularly the upcoming generations whose lives will be turned around as they use the facility, emphasising that she, herself was a great beneficiary of public library.
In her reaction, the Executive Secretary of the State Library Board, Mrs Yemisi Adeleye, thanked both the State Governor and Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as she described the project as an answered prayer.
Adeleye described Governor Oyebanji as a listening father, selfless and a man of vision. Saying he took action immediately he heard about the project. “He has saved us from 28 years of groaning, pains and tears. Today, God Almighty has done it”. Said she.
In a separate interview with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, appreciated the Senate Leader for naming the facility after his father, the departed primate of Anglican diocese of Ife, Osun State.
Acknowledging the Senate Leader for naming the library after his father, the departed primate, of Anglican diocese of Ife, Dr. Oloniyo said, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is an ajudged son of baba Oloniyo.
According to him, “MOB might not be his biological son but he is one of the cherished sons of baba Oloniyo while he was alive”.
Speaking on the facility, the Governor’s aide explained that the State is blessed to have the digital library which according to him means imbibing reading culture with technology.
“We are privileged for the distinguished Senator to think of bringing this kind of thing to this environment”.
He therefore urged the youths to make proper use of it. Just as he equally commended the state Governor, Oyebanji for his contributions towards the project, and his disposition to all strata of people.
