The rift between federal lawmaker, Bamidele Salam and Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oyetola seems unending as both parties have continued to trade words over allegations levelled against the governor of the state by the PDP lawmaker, Salam.
Recall that the PDP lawmaker, Bamidele Salam in an interview had accused the governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola of treating political leaders under the Peoples Democratic Party in the state with disdain which in return has affected the growth of the state, citing Osun Airport and Cocoa processing industry in Ede as case studies.
Reacting to the allegation when he featured in an interview, Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor refuted the allegations and maintained that the lawmaker did not make himself available when the governor honored his request to see him.
Ismail Omipidan recounted how the lawmaker contacted him to fix a meeting with the governor which was acknowledged but told him that he was on his way out of the state when he got back to him.
However, the rift seems unending as the special assistant to the federal lawmaker, Oladele Bamiji better known as HOB days after slammed Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oyetola days for calling his principal, a liar and mischievous being.
Calling Omipidan a greenhorn and someone who encircles his principal with sycophantic patronage, he stated that he is desperate to impress his pay port or lacks the tenacity to seek essential clarifications which could have afforded him some level of finesse in his public comments.
Describing the Osun airport as a monstrous mess, he further stated that his principal is making personal efforts to lobby relevant personalities and agencies of government in patriotic anticipation of having our dear state pull through the resources sapping monster.
He concluded that his principal, Hon. Salam still respects the governor as the head of government and overall leader of the state despite the rift and
Reacting to the statement released by the federal lawmaker’s media aide, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oyetola insisted that Hon. Bamidele Salam lied and decried the inability of the lawmaker to address salient issues raised by him in his false claims.
Describing the statement released by Salam’s media as an unnecessary lengthly epistle, Omipidan expressed concerns on why it took the federal lawmaker this long to find an explanation for his gaffe, saying it clearly shows that he had no defense and Salam was only shopping for explanation.
Explaining the situation, Ompidan disclosed that Hon. Salam had asked me to fix the appointment with my boss, which I did. But by the time I called later that day for him to honour the appointment, he said he was on his way out of the state and that he was going to call me back when next he was in town. He never did.
“The next time he called was about the House Committee on Works. My boss was not available, but we arranged for him and the Committee members to see the Deputy Governor. However, like a dishonorable fellow, he cleverly avoided all that aspect in his long epistle. Instead, he resorted to personal insults on my person”, he added.
Speaking on being called a greenhorn, Omipidan said his records of service in all the places he have had the opportunity to serve are in the public domain.
‘I won’t dissipate energy on that. If it becomes necessary, hundreds of Nigerians who know me well will rise in my defence, he said.
Omipidan further stated that Hon. Bamidele Salam lied, saying it is more honourable to apologise for a gaffe than try to justify it with insults that fail to address the issue.
He concluded that the results of our efforts on Ido-Osun airport and cocoa industry in Ede will start yeilding results and assured the people that no opportunity is lost.
Recall that the former governor of Osun state and the current minister of Interior initiated the Osun airport project which has suffered a lot of controversies owing to its abandonment.