An ex President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and former House of Representatives member, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, who was being treated of gun shot wounds at a Lagos hospital, has been flown to the United Kingdom for further treatment.
The former activist who is also an ex governorship aspirant, and five others were shot at a reception rally organised for the All Progressives Congress candidate for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti on June 2
He was flown to Lagos last Sunday in an air ambulance after doctors at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, extracted two bullets from his abdomen and leg.
It was learnt on Saturday that he was flown in a private jet belonging to a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in whose government he served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy, on Friday night after receiving treatment at Euracare Multi-Specialists Hospital on Victoria Island, Lagos.
He was reportedly flown to the UK on the former\’s insistence that he be exposed to treatment in line with best global practice. .
A source said however that there is no cause for alarm adding: “He (Bamidele) had started cracking jokes at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, where a surgery was performed on him before he was flown to Lagos for further treatment.”
His media aide, Ahmed Salami, also confirmed that his principal has been flown abroad for “post-surgery management,” and dispelled the rumour that Bamidele was flown abroad because of fears over his health.
He said:“He (Bamidele) is fully stabilised, so there is no cause for alarm. He only went abroad for a post-surgery management and to get prepared for the task ahead. He actually walked into the plane.”
It was also learnt that the riot policeman that fired the shots that injured Bamidele and the politician he escorted from Lagos were still in police custody, while the Police in Ekiti have concluded the orderly room trial of the policeman said to be serving with 20MPF in Lagos who would soon know his fate.
Ekiti Command\’s Police spokesman, ASP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed this development in Ado Ekiti, to The Punch, saying:.‘We have concluded the orderly room trial but there is a laid down procedure to follow. At the appropriate time, the public will know about it.”
Ikechukwu said the policeman was still recovering from the injuries he sustained when the mob lynched him.
He also confirmed that the unnamed politician was still in the custody of the police and would be charged to court as may be necessary for illegally engaging the services of the policeman.
Meanwhile, loyalists of Bamidele have said the shooting of their principal won’t derail their focus of actualising the victory of the APC in the July 14 election.
They pledged their commitment to the success of the APC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the election.
The decision was reached during a meeting held at the residence of a former chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Akin Olayisade, in Ado-Ekiti, which was a follow-up to a meeting earlier held with Fayemi at his residence in Isan Ekiti.
