Ogun central must produce Deputy Governor in 2027— Iyabo Obasanjo insists

By Omobolaji Adekunle

Former senator and daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, on Wednesday declared that Ogun Central would no longer tolerate political marginalisation, insisting that the zone must produce the next deputy governor of Ogun State.

Obasanjo made the declaration during a rally at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Abeokuta, where she was formally received into the party and presented with its senatorial ticket for Ogun Central.

Her remarks come amid heightened political activities in the state following her defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which she accused of sidelining Ogun Central and imposing candidates.

“We don’t want the Speaker position. Ogun Central will not accept anything less than the deputy governorship. That is what we will settle for,” she said.

The former lawmaker lamented what she described as the exclusion of Ogun Central from key positions in the state’s political structure over the last eight years.

According to her, while the governor is from Ogun East and the deputy governor from Ogun West, Ogun Central has been left with less influential positions.

“In the current arrangement, the governor is from Ogun East, the deputy governor from Ogun West, and most strategic positions are concentrated there. Ogun Central has been relegated to the background. The insults are too much,” she said.

Obasanjo, who previously served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health, accused APC leaders in the state of violating internal democratic principles during the governorship selection process, alleging that a candidate was imposed without proper consultation.

“They simply raised the hand of a candidate without informing us. That is not consensus; that is imposition,” she said.

She disclosed that she withdrew from the governorship race immediately after the controversial meeting and formally communicated her decision to party leaders.

“I wrote a letter that same night withdrawing my ambition and wished the candidate well. They later approached me, and we met, but after that, nothing happened for two months. I cannot be humiliated,” she added.

Explaining her initial decision to join the APC, Obasanjo said it was influenced by her admiration for President Bola Tinubu, whom she described as a leader who accords her respect and dignity.

“I joined the APC because of the President. He honours me and treats me like a daughter. In Yoruba land, dignity and honour are more valuable than money,” she said.

However, she noted that the conduct of party leaders in Ogun State fell short of her expectations, prompting her eventual exit from the party.

Obasanjo also said her return to active politics was at the instance of her supporters, who urged her to intervene in what they described as the declining state of affairs in Ogun State.

“They reminded me of what I did as commissioner and senator and asked me to come back and serve. If people still remember your good deeds, then they deserve more,” she said.

She further accused some former political associates of betrayal despite benefiting from her support.

“Some of those I helped have turned against me. Anyone I empowered who betrays me will not succeed,” she said.

Earlier, Obasanjo was formally welcomed into the PDP at a rally attended by the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, supporters, and party members from Ogun Central and other parts of the state. The event was preceded by a procession through major streets in Abeokuta.

Presenting the PDP flag to Obasanjo, the party’s Ogun State Chairman, Dr. Abayomi Tella, announced her as the PDP’s senatorial candidate for Ogun Central.

“On behalf of our National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, and the National Working Committee of the PDP, I present this flag to our revered sister, Prof. Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, as the authority of the party for her candidature for the Senate in Ogun Central,” Tella said.

Taking the party’s oath, Obasanjo pledged loyalty to the PDP, its constitution, manifesto, and code of conduct.

“I commit myself to the ideals of the PDP. I shall serve the people of Ogun State and Nigeria with integrity, humility, and dedication, prioritising their welfare above personal and sectional interests,” she declared.