Donatus Mathew, an Okada rider who contested and won the February 25 National Assembly on the platform of the Labour Party has revealed what motivated him to contest during an interview with PUNCH.
Donatus Mathew hails from Kpak Kagoro Chiefdom in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State graduated from Saint Albert Institute with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Donatus said he won the election due to a collective decision of the people of Kaura, most especially, the youths, who seriously needed that change and believed in him.
Responding to whether it is true that he is an Okada rider or not, Donatus said, “Honestly, it is very true. Before I became a councilor, I was an Okada man. I have been using a bike to sustain myself and I am proud of that. Even now, I have colleagues who are still doing it (riding Okada) and I think there is nothing wrong with that. That is my humble beginning”.
Speaking on what motivated him to contest for the position under the platform of the Labour Party, Donatus disclosed that he joined the Labour Party to work and support the Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi. However, in the course of doing that, he said people suggested and wooed him to join the National Assembly race. He said he never intended to go but he was convinced to serve his people.
In his words, he said, ‘I joined the Labour Party to work for the Presidential candidate then. But later on, in the course of events, many people came up to suggest that we should go into the contest, which I reluctantly went into, because I never intended to before now.’
“However, after due consultation, people insisted that I should come for service and that triggered my interest. That was the simple reason why I joined the contest. Also, we want to give people the credible leadership they expect, most especially my constituency”.
He said he has been to all the nooks and crannies of his constituency and interacted with people from different backgrounds. Hence, he knows where the shoes pinch the people of his constituency.
“My experience helped me to meet and interact with people from different background. I live most of my life in Kagoro, and I know what it means to get a meal in a day to put on the table. As you grow from one level to another, you learn how to assist others.”
“I have visited all the nooks and crannies of my constituency and I am aware of their peculiar challenges. That’ll guide me on what to do for my people. In the course of my experience as an Okada rider, I gained knowledge of what is called human existence.” –he said.