Bamidele Michael Opeyemi

Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (born 29 July 1963) popularly known as MOB, is a Nigerian lawyer, human rights activist, and politician who is currently serving as the majority leader of the Nigerian Senate since 2023. He has represented Ekiti Central senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate since 2019.

Bamidele was born on 29 July 1963, at Iyin Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria. He spent his early life in Lagos State where he attended Baptist Academy secondary school and then Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in religious studies.

Bamidele later attended the University of Benin where he received a bachelor's degree in law in 1990. Having graduated from the Nigerian Law School, he was called to the bar in 1992.

He proceeded to Franklin Pierce University, receiving a master's degree in law and was called to the New York Bar in January 1999. He was one of the defense counsel, led by Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, in the treason trial of Moshood Abiola.

In June 1992, he contested in the primary elections for the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos State under the Social Democratic Party but lost.

He served as a special assistant on legal matters to Senator Bola Tinubu until November 1993. After the truncation of Nigeria’s democracy by General Sanni Abacha, he was appointed senior special assistant on political and intergovernmental relations to the Lagos State governor in July 2000.

Later, he was appointed as Commissioner for Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Social Development in Bola Tinubu’s administration. In April 2011, he was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly to represent Ekiti Central federal constituency 1.

In March 2015, in an article titled 'My hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,' he criticized the release of The Lion of Bourdilion, a documentary film by Africa Independent Television, and the opposition party’s role in its release.

He served as MHR (Member of the House of Representatives) from June 2011 to June 2015. He was Honorable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State (July 2007 to February 2011) and Honorable Commissioner for Youths, Sports, and Social Development, Lagos State (July 2003 to May 2007).

He was also a Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Lagos State (July 2000 to May 2003).

Bamidele became a Life Bencher Fellow of the Body of Benchers (Nigeria) and a Chaired Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria). In October 2022, a Nigerian national honor of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.