- Ex-commissioner declares interest on APC platform
The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared interest in Ogun State governorship ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
She dismissed the insinuation that her father influenced her decision to join the governorship race.
The former commissioner maintained that her aspiration was driven purely by personal conviction and sustained calls from supporters across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja after she visited the party’s leadership, Senator Obasanjo expressed optimism of clinching the APC ticket ahead of next year’s election.
Announcing her membership of APC and her intention to vie for the party’s governorship ticket in Ogun State, Senator Obasanjo said: “As you must have read in the news, I’ve joined APC. As a card-carrying member, I have also put myself in the ring to be nominated by the party as the governorship candidate for APC in Ogun State.”
Dismissing the widespread assumption that her father has a lot of influence in her political trajectory, the former Ogun Central senator said: “My father is just another Nigerian who will vote for me. He has not presented any platform for me and has not influenced my decision in any way.”
Accompanied by the party’s bigwigs from the state, the governorship hopeful, who has been out of active politics, explained that her return followed years of appeals from Ogun residents and political associates, many of whom are now members of the ruling APC.
She said: “I have not been in active politics for many years. I am back because the people of Ogun State asked for my return. Most of those I have worked with and had positive experiences with are now in APC. That informed my choice.”
Recalling her contributions to the state as a former Commissioner for Health and senator, she expressed confidence that the goodwill from her service to the state would enable her to secure the party’s ticket and govern the state.
“If you know my efforts when I was Commissioner for Health, we did a lot of good things. The goodwill from my time in the Senate and as commissioner is what is making it so easy to mobilise.
“If given the opportunity, I will bring my experience to bear in repositioning Ogun State and strengthening the APC,” she said.
Commenting on the viability of a female governor under the current political dispensation, Senator Obasanjo noted that Nigeria has never had an elected female governor, stressing that it was time women were given greater opportunities in leadership.
“I believe a woman can become a governor in Nigeria, and I hope it becomes the norm,” she added.
The former commissioner assured the people that if given the mandate, she would focus on development, industrial growth, education, science and technology in preparing the teeming young people in the state for innovation-driven careers.
Giving her take on the zoning arrangement in the state and if the governorship ticket might be micro-zoned to Ogun West, Ms. Obaanjo said she believed the race was open and competitive.
“For me, I’m joining the race because I think it’s open. Nothing is impossible. I’ve been in politics, so, I’m not naive,” she added.
Admitting the long-standing agitation for Ogun West to produce a governor, she said: “Every zone deserves a fair chance.”
The former commissioner argued that the party needs to field a candidate with the brightest chances to win across all three senatorial districts.
