Baptist churches, CAN, Muslims, constituents honour Bunvic for impactful representation
PanNigerianNews
3 min read
By Sunday ADEPOJU
It was a fanfare of joy, this evening, as Baptist churches and other religious bodies in Oko, supporters and constituents of Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency converged on Oko to celebrate, what they termed, exceptional terms of office in the National Assembly and meritorious service to fatherland of a former law-maker of the constituency, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi (Bunvic).
Hon. Odebunmi, the immediate past chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, had represented the constituency for three consecutive terms (12 years).
Held at the law-maker’s family church, Oke-Ola Baptist Church, Oko auditorium which was filled to the brim, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the axis, Muslim community, traditionalists, educational administrators, schools, media organisations, old student associations, among others, also graced the event and presented goodwill messages on the Okanlomo of Ogbomosoland, who hailed from Olokose compound in Oko, Surulere local government area of Oyo State.
Attendees at the thanksgiving/commendation service extolled virtues and benevolent leadership of Hon. Odebunmi, with the phrases, “Just a little a recess”, “Just a stopover” and other best wishes reverberating in the speeches presented by dignitaries at the programme.
The guest preacher at event and President of Ogbomoso Baptist Conference, Revd Dr Niyi Ojo, shortly before his message, said, “I congratulate you all because one of us had served and never disappointed us. I’m congratulating you and your family. And on behalf of other men of God, I congratulate you.
“I understand that Hon. Odebunmi can still represent us. We thank God that you went alive and you came back alive. I congratulate you for those you have uplifted. Your name has been registered in history and this is evident from many testimonies.
“Several vacant seats have been reserved for you and you will occupy them.”
Dr Ojo, in his sermon, titled “By God’s grace alone”, enjoined political leaders to recognise that any position they find themselves is the grace of only God Almighty.
He stated, “We thank God that our brother has not wasted the grace given to him by God in the last few years.
“For our brother, it is a grace that has not been monopolised; it is a grace that has been extended to people as exemplified in the testimonies we have heard today. Hon. Odebunmi, please, keep hope alive.”
The cleric, who reminded all leaders that they are going to give stewardship of the role assigned to them, charged Odebunmi to keep being a source of blessings unto people, even, now that he is no longer in the National Assembly.
Responding to the myriad of testimonies at the event, Odebunmi, flanked by his amiable wife, Chief (Mrs) Toyin Odebunmi, thanked the organisers and everyone who came to felicitate him on the successful representation at the National Assembly.
Odebunmi, immersed in joy in his vote of thanks, said, “I have nothing to offer other than praising the Almighty God for the marvellous grace He has offered me. I thank all clergymen from different Christian denominations and other religions.
“I never knew that politicians could still be celebrated after leaving office. You all surprised me and I have not taken this for granted.
“I thank all the leaders and members of my political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) at federal, state and local levels.
“I thank Ogbomoso as a whole and most especially the political dynasty of our great leader, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala. Finally, I want to thank my political family and my immediate family for standing by me.”
Speaking to newsmen after the event, Hon. Odebunmi hinted that it was his priority to liberate his constituents in terms electrification, education, infrastructure, empowerment, agriculture, among others.
He said, “As a representative of a rural constituency, I determined to liberate my people and constituents in the areas of education, electrification, infrastructure, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, to mention just a few.
“I make bold to say that I have achieved the little I could do. Apart from the above, do you want to talk of employment opportunities for our youths? God has given me the grace to affect my youths positively.
“Those we have empowered will live to give back to our communities.”
