Hon. Segun Odebunmi, popularly called Bunvic, is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Surulere/ Ogo Oluwa constituency in Oyo State. He was born a few decades ago to the family of Pa. & Late Madam Odebunmi of Olokose’s Compound, Isale Ejigbo in Oko, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State. He had his primary education at Baptist Day School, Oko, Oyo State, between 1974 and 1980 after which he enrolled at Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Oko, Oyo State, Nigeria where he passed his West African School Certificate Examinations.
Though the road was not too smooth for him, but the zeal which he had for qualitative education made him to work harder and gained admission into Fashola Farm Mechanization Training Centre where he bagged an Ordinary Diploma.
Very ambitious, young Segun proceeded to Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria where he obtained his National Diploma (ND) in Secretariat Administration, and to further enhance his education, he proceeded to University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree (B Sc.) in Business Education in 2001.
Some years back, before he completed his University education, he gained employment with Adeyemo Petroleum Nig. Ltd., Oko, Oyo State as a Petrol Station Attendant and as a result of his honesty and hard work at Adeyemo Petroleum Nig. Ltd. Odebunmi Olusegun rose to the post of a Depot Representative (Rep.) and General Manager respectively.
After acquiring the wealth of experience in Oil/Petroleum Marketing, SEGUN ODEBUNMI established his company in 1997 with the registration name: “BUNVIC INVESTMENT NIG.LTD, which specialises in Oil/Petroleum Marketing.
At present, Bunvic Investment Nig. Ltd. has spread across many towns and cities in Nigeria with assets worth millions of naira. It’s worth mentioning, at this point, that Odebunmi Olusegun is not only a successful Petroleum marketer but also a successful Mechanized Farmer. His farm output/products have been able to meet the needs of the people in his community and neighbourhood environment. Both at his farm and in other areas of his business, Odebunmi Olusegun has given gainful employment to so many youths thereby spreading joy into so many homes and reducing the rate of unemployment in his community.
He has the opportunity to serve and still serving in various organisations both in the private and public sectors, holding important positions at various levels, i.e Three (3) term Executive Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria, Full-time Commissioner, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, etc.
Olusegun Odebunmi has been in politics from birth but he joined active politics a few years ago mainly to avail him an opportunity to serve his people better. He was encouraged by one of his Uncles who is also a Politician.
Olusegun Odebunmi passionately plays politics. He is always concerned about his peoples’ wellbeing. During his tenure as the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, he brought a better life to his people and in return his people have always called unto him to lead them, believing that “OLUSEGUN is the Moses of their generation”.
Hon. Segun Odebunmi is the Director, Ogbomoso Micro Finance Bank, Managing Director, Bunvic Investment Nig. Ltd, Treasurer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association Of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ibadan Depot. 2001-2003, Treasurer, Association Of Local Government Chairmen (ALGON), Oyo State Chapter. 2003-2007, Secretary, Petroleum Dealers and Marketers Association, Ogbomoso Branch, Patron, Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), Surulere Local Government, Interim Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State.2003-2004, Executive Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State.2004-2007, Interim Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Oyo State.May 2007- Oct. 2007, Commissioner, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Representative at National house of Assembly Abuja and many CHIEFTAINCY TITLES like; “OKANLOMO” of Ogbomosoland by His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III, JP, CON, Soun Of Ogbomosoland, “OLUOMO” of Okoland by His Royal Highness, Oba Elijah Adaramola, JP, Oloko Of Okoland, “OTUNBA” of Aresaadu by His Royal Highness, Oba Alh. Jimoh O. Oloyede, Aresaadu of Iresaadu.
Recently, City People Assistant Editor/Head of City People Tv, SUNDAY ADIGUN and City People Ibadan Correspondent, DARE ADENIRAN met with him at a function and he revealed many strategies that worked for him to win the House of Rep election for the 3rd time. Excerpt.
You are a member of House of Representatives, representing Surulere/ Ogo Oluwa constituency, what are the strategies you’ve put in place, to let people feel your impact?
That is one of the reasons we were elected. Whatever we could do to make the lives of our people better, we must do it. We must go the extra mile to make sure we are able to do somethings that will make their lives better. The most important thing is not to go beyond the constitution, which we’ve been doing within the Constitutional power of our responsibility to make sure things are better now than how we met it. To God be the glory, this is my 3rd term in the Federal House of Reps. That means I should not be thinking of anything else, but about my people. I won’t deceive you my constituency is no 1, even before my family. if I have N10,000 with me, I’m ready and I’ve been doing it, I’m ready to spend N7,000 on my constituency and spend the balance of N3,000 on my family because there is nothing to quantify the support I’ve been receiving from them. So I have totally submitted myself to their development.
You found your way into the House of Reps the 3rd term, what is your winning strategy?
The most important thing is to make yourself available. It may look difficult, but make sure you identify yourself with your people. As I’m here today, by tomorrow, 6 persons from my constituency will be holding one ceremony or the other and I must be there, I must identify with them. Apart from that, frequent visitation to them, to make sure you know where they are living and how they live; identify with their problems, meet them at their points of need, not just when you need them for voting. That is why I always disagree with what people were saying about constituency projects. If not for constituency projects given through me to my constituency, I couldn’t have been where I am today, at the National Assembly for the 3rd term. When it is time for me to go for a capital project, I will go for capital. When there is time for me to go for material things to give to my people, at least to elevate their levels, I will go for it. I will meet them according to their needs. So, the strategy is; make yourself available, identify with them. Forget about godfatherism or not. The present politics of Nigeria is about who you are.
Is it that you don’t believe in godfatherism or what?
I’m not saying I don’t believe in it. I’ve been a product of godfatherism, I respect them and I’ve paid my dues, but what I’m saying is; don’t rely on godfatherism to win an election. The godfatherism will not follow you to your polls. They can influence your ticket. They can influence people to support you, but your behaviour towards your people would give you the winning formular. I will still say it; the strategy is to identify with your people. It is not about money. It is not about anything.
Your life has evolved over the years; there are many things you rolled into one; the businessman, the politician and the philanthropist, and you are also playing big in properties. How did all the phases of your life evolve?
Before you can be successful in politics, you must be successful in your personal business. If you rely on politics to sustain yourself, you will be finished in no time. They will finish you because the ladder in politics cannot be smooth at all times. There will be a period of black cloud, there will be periods of uncomfortable situations politically and there will be a period of goodies. At periods of uncomfortable situations, your business would sustain you. Never think whatever deal you make in politics is your own. Whatever is meant for politics will go for politics. Make your business a very sustainable one. So that it can sustain you in your political career. There are many times I’ve borrowed money from my business going back to Abuja, and there are times I will get money in politics and payback whatever I borrowed from the business.
People call you and know you as Bunvic even more than your real name, how did you get that nickname?
Bunvic is my business name before I joined politics. I’m into the Petroleum business.
