Hon. Sunday Bukumi Onidare contested the APC House of Assembly primary ticket for Ondo west constituency 1. He came second in the election with 10 delegates votes out of 28.
OSB as he is popularly known, demonstrated a good sense of sportsmanship by conceding defeat. He went a step further to congratulate the winner and also organized a big feast for his supports after the primary election loss.
In this interview with our correspondent, OSB talked on his future political plans and also spoke on the reason for electing to fete his supporters.
Excerpts :
Can we meet you please?
I am Sunday Bukumi Onidare by name. I am also known politically and in the business world as OSB.
What can you describe as the major factor that has been keeping the OSB movement going ?
The OSB movement appear to come as a surprise to some people. However, what I feel is my major fuel is the fact that I have been able to identify my calling. And of course the calling is so clear that I cannot but go get it. It has always been my desire to raise men and contribute immensely to the development of my society. This is one of the compelling reasons that brought me home to seek an avenue to serve. I am already feeling fulfilled even though we have just started. Where we are headed is so far, but it is a thing of joy to make efforts that have been acknowledged by the people.
I am aware that you lost in your bid to secure APC House of Assembly
ticket, how come you were able to concede defeat so easily and still manage to fete your supporters thereafter ?
Well it is God. If I say I was not pained after hearing the results, that means I am not a sincere person. I was pained at some point because of irregularities that ensued in the process. The stress involved is something else. And of course, you can tell how it feels to have prepared so much for something that eventually got thwarted. I am motivated though that God Almighty is always involved in the activities of men as well as the future ahead. He could bring more glorious expectations for me. More so, my lovers truly keep me comforted and this gave me strength to stay calm and happy. The love I received from my people also gave me an unending joy. My supporters stood by me and outside the election venue from morning till night. This got me overwhelmed and I feel doubly assured that my work and efforts were indeed acknowledged by my people. This therefore compelled the need to celebrate these set of wonderful supporters.
You mentioned a while ago that there were irregularities in the election, could you tell us more on this ?
Of course, there were irregularities in the election. Most especially when the election was supposed to have started by 10:am, but it did not start until after 6pm and no reason was given for the delay. There were other issues as well. But this is Nigeria politics where various rigging strategies cannot be completely ruled out. Even though we cannot all be too desperate, but we thank God above all. Meanwhile, I will not speak any further on this issue.
Now that the primary election has been won and lost, what is your next political move?
This is simple really. Although I
have received several calls from various persons and parties to cross carpet with an assurance of a soft landing. They know my capacity and the strength of my supporters which they believe will be an added advantage to their existing teams. Election has come and gone and we still remain in our great party, the All Progressive Congress. To me, none of the three contestants won the just concluded election primary. The true winner is our party, the All Progressive Congress. As such, all hands need to be on deck. Also, leadership of our party at the state and Local government should as a matter of urgency reunite the party. They should also seal up cracked walls and put up robust campaigns at all levels so as to ensure the victory of APC at the polls come 2023.
I congratulate the flag bearer and it will be my pleasure to work for the party at all levels in a bid to achieve collective goals of the party. I will also plead with all my supporters to stay calm as l see an opportunity ahead of everyone of us in the very nearest future.
My next line of action also include staying with my people and sustaining my contributions to our people from time to time. Just like I earlier promised, I will not abandon my people. I also want to correct the notion that politicians will aleays run away after losing an election and will only reappear after anither 4 years to contest again.
Any word of advice for your supporters ?
Definitely. But let me start by appreciating the leaders of my party, APC from the ward level to the national level. Also, I will like to appreciate my own supporters at home and in diaspora. I thank you all for the unmerited love and affection to the OSB movement. My special appreciation also goes to my constituency, my local government, and Ondo State. I appreciate all the women that stood by me, most especially my darling wife. I appreciate the support of all the youths, the aged, widows, trade unions, student unions, artisans and transport unions.
