Opeyemi Bamidele, leader of the Nigerian Senate, has rejected claims that he acted in a way that was detrimental to Yoruba interests when serving in the 10th National Assembly.
He addressed allegations made by certain individuals in the media, calling them “baseless, false and unfounded.” He asserted that since being elected to the National Assembly, he had faithfully served the interests of Ekiti Central, Ekiti State, South-west, and Nigeria as a whole.
Bamidele challenged anyone or any party to produce audio or video evidence to support the accusation against him in a statement given to Gistcon on Wednesday by his Media and Public Affairs.
“If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra,” he allegedly claimed, but he insisted that the media shouldn’t have given him credit for the remarks.
He strongly refuted the claim, claiming it was an effort to cast him in a negative light and pit him against the Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities within the federation.
According to the congressman, during the 27th and 28th September 2024 Senate Retreat on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, he never once brought up regional administration in accordance with the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Neither the return to regional administration nor the allegation that “If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra” were ever made by me in any forum.
“It is a clear instance of disinformation and intentional false news, which in no manner reflect my perspective on the structure of federal governance,” Bamidele stated.
Nevertheless, Bamidele made it clear that he would not think twice about taking legal action against anyone or any organization that spreads false information about him or his office, and he reiterated that a regional government was not being proposed.