The daughter of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo suggested that the legislator, who currently represents Ogun West, ought to remain dedicated to the political environment where he initially established his career rather than migrating to a new state solely to satisfy gubernatorial ambitions.
She contended that for a politician to spend a significant portion of their career in one state only to move to Ogun specifically to capture the governorship is not the most ethical or effective way to participate in the democratic process.
These observations were shared by the former senator during a broadcast session titled ‘Political Hurdles Facing Nigerian Women, 2027 and Beyond’, which aired on Frontline via Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese Ijebu.
While monitoring the programme from Abeokuta, correspondents noted her concerns regarding the regional distribution of power within the state.
Although she acknowledged that the Nigerian legal framework does not mandate specific zoning or rotational policies for leadership, she expressed a deep personal concern that the Ogun West region has yet to produce a governor.
To address this historical imbalance, she pledged to champion the cause of an Ogun West successor immediately following the conclusion of her own projected term in office.
Having officially entered the race for the 2027 Ogun State governorship, Iyabo Obasanjo questioned the suitability of a candidate who appears to be scouting for the most advantageous territory to secure a win.
She raised questions about the long-standing political figures within the Yewa community who have been active locally from the beginning, suggesting that an outsider who practised politics elsewhere might not be the optimal choice for the people of that region.
She drew a comparison with the incumbent governor, noting that his consistent presence in the local political scene from the start allowed the electorate to know him thoroughly.
She warned that if politicians continue to jump between states based on where they perceive the greatest advantage, it will lead to the degradation of the entire political infrastructure.
During the discussion, she also addressed the grievances of the West regarding their lack of gubernatorial representation.
She argued that the responsibility for this gap should not be placed solely on Ogun Central, pointing out that, while the Central region has produced two governors, the Eastern region has produced three.
She recalled her personal efforts in the past to support the late General Olurin, an Ogun West candidate, when he ran under the PDP banner, highlighting that she had actively campaigned for him despite the eventual unsuccessful outcome.
Her current stance is one of empathy for the West’s frustrations, though she firmly believes that her own victory is the immediate priority for the state’s development.
The governorship hopeful displayed significant confidence in her own qualifications and stated clearly that she feels no sense of intimidation from the other contenders vying for the seat.
Her primary motivation, she explained, is to address the existing gaps in governance and to bring about tangible improvements in the daily lives of the citizens of Ogun State.
She emphasised that voters should evaluate candidates based on their proven presence and actual ability to deliver results.
She further claimed that she possesses a greater capacity to eventually organise and support a candidate from the West than the current representative of that zone does, alleging that the senator has not historically supported others from his own region.
She said, “you are coming out just for yourself, and I am coming out because I’ve served the people.”
The former senator, who recently made a high-profile return to the political arena after a fifteen-year hiatus, has aligned herself with the ruling All Progressives Congress to pursue her gubernatorial goals.