••Says Osun Defeat, Wake-Up Call for APC
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Oyo State, Hon. Busari Adewale Yakub, popularly known as Donbay, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the party, saying he remains committed to its success despite losing the party’s ticket to contest the House of Representatives election.
Donbay, an indigene of Ago-Are in ATISBO LGA of Oyo state, stated this during an interview with ITV Online in Lagos on Monday, while reflecting on the recent APC primary elections in the Saki West, Saki East and ATISBO Federal Constituency.
He said his political activities remained vibrant, adding that he was determined to continue mobilising support for the APC ahead of the general elections.
According to him, although he had expressed interest in contesting the House of Representatives seat, the party’s decision to retain the incumbent lawmaker compelled him to respect the principle of party supremacy.
“I am a loyal member of the APC. The party has its hierarchy and guiding principles. Since the decision was to ensure continuity with the current lawmaker, I have aligned myself with that decision,” he said.
Donbay said there was no personal or other impediment to his ambition, stressing that the only factor that stood in his way was the decision of the party leadership.
He said he had accepted the outcome in good faith, adding, “God’s time is the best.”
On whether he felt disappointed after being denied the House of Representatives ticket, despite his earlier expectation of securing the House of representatives ticket, Donbay said the APC had established procedures for selecting candidates.
He urged party members to trust the leadership, noting that the party understood how to deploy its members and stakeholders for political assignments.
Speaking on his future mobilisation efforts, he said he would, at the appropriate time, mobilise his supporters and work towards the success of APC candidates in the constituency.
He also cited the achievements of Senator Buhari Abdulfatai and Hon. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun as major selling points for the party ahead of the elections.
On the agitation for ATISBO LGA to produce the next member of the House of Representatives, Donbay said he had been at the forefront of the campaign since 2015.
He said ATISBO had patiently waited for its turn and expressed optimism that the LG would produce the representative for the federal constituency in 2031.
“I was the first person to start the agitation that it should be the turn of ATISBO since 2015. We have continued to sensitise our people on the need to support the cause. If not for the party’s decision, this would have been the turn of ATISBO in the current political dispensation,” he said.
Reacting to the APC’s defeat in the recent Osun State governorship election, Donbay described the outcome as a “litmus test” and a wake-up call for the party leadership.
He urged the APC not to rely excessively on self-acclaimed political leaders who claimed they could deliver polling units or wards, stressing the need to strengthen the party’s reconciliation process.
He called for a review of the reconciliation committee, saying genuine efforts should be made to bring aggrieved aspirants and their supporters back into the fold.
On Governor Seyi Makinde’s political influence and whether it could constitute an obstacle to President Bola Tinubu’s prospects in Oyo State, Donbay said the governor was merely seeking political relevance.
He, however, criticised the Makinde administration for what he described as its failure to make local governments fully functional.