The Majority Leader of the Senate, Dr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, will on Tuesday, 25 July 2023, unveil two books in commemoration of his 60th birthday anniversary.
The two-term senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) personally wrote the books in two volumes with the title ‘Leadership Through Communication’ (Volumes 1 & 2) in an effort to dissect the social, political and economic events which gave birth to the current Fourth Republic.
Among other things, the first volume of the book which comes in 406 pages and 14 chapters addresses how to actualise development at grassroots through information and strategy, advocating rights of the poor in the society, ending want in the midst of plenty and maintaining integrity in public office.
Prof. Adeyemi Isumonah of Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, said in the foreword that the book “is an overview of major processes of leadership and development with a pointed message for major stakeholders in society”.
The first volume also talks about Lagos Mega City and global economic meltdown, government and media relations in Lagos, where the Senate Leader cut his teeth in politics under the able tutorship of President Bola Tinubu, who was then governor of Lagos State.
Senator Bamidele served in various capacities in Lagos, including as two-term commissioner, Special Adviser and Special Assistant.
The second volume of the book gives robust attention to issues around Nigeria’s democracy, terrorism and security challenges, the place of law and order, restoring public confidence in the justice system, road to self-awareness for the Nigerian youth and the anti-graft fight of Buhari administration.
On terrorism, Bamidele recommends thus, “It is important for the security services to review the existing security architecture that privileges protection for persons with power to the exclusion of the majority of the people.”
In his foreword to the second volume, which comes in 305 pages and 10 chapters, playwright and arts journalist Ben Tomoluju described the book as “predominantly the testament of a rights crusader”.
The book presentation scheduled to take place at the Yar’Adua Center, Abuja, is one of the series of events lined up for the birthday anniversary, where the former VC of University of Lagos, Prof Toyin Ogundipe, will be Guest Lecturer.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as the Father of the Day and Chairman of the Occasion, respectively.
Also, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Biodun Oyebanji of Lagos and Ekiti States, respectively, will co-host the event, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio will be the Chief Host.
Senator Bamidele, a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research and Chairman Adhoc Committee on Media and Publicity, who will clock 60 on 29 July 2023, is a consummate lawyer with practice experiences in New York and Nigeria for the last 30 years
