Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, fondly called MOB among his political adherents nationwide, is a man of many parts. To some, he is a truly moral agent for positive change. To others, he is a consummate patriot, who leverages politics to redefine the future. For him, politics is passion that impels him to serve humanity while law is a calling that equips him for the pursuit of a just, equitable and egalitarian society.

These virtues are no doubt natural to him, setting him aside as the incontestable choice of the people in virtually all elections he contested between 2011 and 2023. Currently representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, Bamidele occupies the enviable Office of the Leader of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria. In this capacity, he has been playing a pivotal role in the stability of the nation's apex legislative institution and helping to build a tradition of robust executive-legislative relations, a salient enabler of democracy that has been in want since the inception of the Fourth Republic.

Whether in the seventh National Assembly when he chaired the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research or in the ninth National Assembly when he led the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, spurring legislations that prioritise public welfare and creating an environment that enables limitless opportunities have been at the core of his parliamentary exploits and interventions.

Bamidele’s political conviction, unshakably founded on egalitarianism, populism and welfarism, earned him the chairmanship of Southern Senators’ Forum between 2021 and 2024.

He leveraged this office to pursue the vision of the Forum, which emphasises diversity in building national unity through pro-people legislations that prioritise the South and Nigeria alike.

His foray into politics evidently predates this era. Between 2000 and 2011, Bamidele served in the Lagos State Executive Council, first as the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration and also as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy under the Babatunde Fashola Administration. Before his elevation to the cabinet in 2003, however, he distinguished himself in different political positions he had the privilege to hold in Lagos State and Nigeria. The positions, among others, include Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs and Director, Media and Publicity of the Alliance for Democracy.

As a legal icon, Bamidele is the Founder, Opeyemi Bamidele & Associates, a reputable law chamber that maintains strong presence in Federal Capital Territory and Lagos. Besides, he is a lawyer without border, licensed to practise not just in Nigeria, but also in the State of New York, United States, where he is an attorney of note and counsellor-at-law.

At different times, Bamidele’s law practice frequently intermixed with public service, starting from when he contested the federal legislative race in 1991 on the platform of Social Democratic Party as a young, but vibrant law graduate. He lost the contest by one vote. This outing endeared him to the heart of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, now the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Consequently, Tinubu appointed him his Senior Legislative Aide in 1992.

But the military incursion, which thwarted the Third Republic, forced him into political asylum in the United States. Even with this condition, he pursued a Master of Laws at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire, Concord, United States, specialising in Intellectual Property Law, with bias in International Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, including the Licensing of International Transfer of Technology.

Before this time, Bamidele graduated, with honours in 1986, from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria with a Bachelor of Arts. Driven by passion for equity, egalitarianism and justice, Bamidele turned to the University of Benin, Nigeria to pursue a Bachelor of Laws, which he completed also with honours in 1990.

Bamidele, a learned counsel of no mean stature, actively maintains his membership of the Nigerian Bar Association, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and International Bar Association. He is also a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management Consultants and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration, Nigeria.

In October 2019, Bamidele was formally admitted into the Body of Benchers, the legal body of practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession. Statutorily, this body is responsible for the formal call to the Bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners and disciplining erring lawyers.

In recognition of his contribution to the restoration, growth and development of democracy in Nigeria and his heroic exploits as a foremost political activist, seasoned legal practitioner, accomplished public administrator and pro-people legislator, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR conferred on him the prestigious National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in October 2022.

This award followed the resolve of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Nigeria to confer Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration on him at its 13th Convocation in January 2023. The institution hinged the honour on Bamidele’s sterling leadership qualities, outstanding courage and excellent service to humanity. In February 2024, also, the Federal University, Oye Ekiti honoured Bamidele with Honorary Doctorate Degree in Private Law.

This time, according to the institution, Bamidele’s strategic approach to public governance in Lagos State, passion for youth development in Nigeria, contribution to the enactment of pro-people legislations at the National Assembly and his compassion for the people at the grassroots earned him the award.

Bamidele perfectly epitomises integrity. His passion for progressive change is obviously irrepressible. To this generation, he is a blessing to every government he has the privilege to serve. To the younger generation, he no doubt typifies a portrait of result-oriented and dynamic leaders Nigeria has curiously been searching for.