Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the Ogun State governorship seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealing her goal of becoming Nigeria’s first elected female governor.
Dr Obasanjo spoke on Monday when she visited the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, where she confirmed she has registered as a card-carrying member of the party.
She stated that her return to active politics was prompted by widespread entreaties from her supporters in Ogun State who demanded her leadership.
The former Senator and Commissioner for Health stated that she is ready to break the long-standing glass ceiling in Nigerian politics.
“As you must have read in the news, I have 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,” she said.
Speaking on the historic nature of her intention, she noted that Nigeria has never produced an elected female governor and expressed confidence that the APC is the right platform to change that.
“The APC’s push on that bill [reserved seats for women] gives me the confidence that the APC is the party that will produce the first female governor in Nigeria that is elected in office.
“I am confident that if there was ever a time for a woman to emerge, this is the time,” she declared.
Dr. Obasanjo, who has spent several years in academia as a research professor, explained that her return to the political arena was fueled by the persistent calls from her constituents.
“The reason I’m back in politics is because people in Ogun State really asked for my return.
“There were all kinds of entreaties and presentations made to me,” she stated, adding that her decision was buoyed by the fact that many of her former supporters had already defected to the APC.
Reflecting on her track record, she cited her work as Health Commissioner and her tenure in the Senate as evidence of her capacity to lead.
Recounting a personal story of intervention in her village, she said, “When I was Commissioner for Health, they brought a day-old baby twins to me.
“Their mother died during birth and the husband had no job. I took these babies into my home… I am just telling you that story is one story that people remind me of.
“That knowledge that you have done well, and people expect that in the governorship you will do well, is one of the things moving my candidature.”
On the issue of zoning the governorship to Ogun West, Dr. Obasanjo acknowledged the fairness of every zone producing a governor but pointed out that previous attempts had failed to secure a winning coalition.
“If everything we have done in the past has not worked, why do we think it will be different now? I think I have the capacity as a sitting governor to help Yewa and the West to get the first governor in Ogun State,” she argued.
When asked about her father’s involvement, the former Senator was categorical in her response that the move was her own.
“He is not part of my coming here today; it is my personal decision. He is just another citizen who will vote for me.
“He has not presented me any platform. Like I said, I made an informed decision to choose APC,” she clarified.
