Daud Olatunji
A former senator and daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, on Wednesday, declared that Ogun Central would no longer accept political marginalisation, insisting that the zone must produce the next deputy governor of the state.
Obasanjo made the declaration at a massive rally held at the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abeokuta, where she was formally received into the party and presented with its senatorial ticket for Ogun Central.
Her comments come amid growing political tension 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 take anything less than the deputy governorship. That is what we will settle for,” she said.
The former lawmaker lamented what she described as the systematic exclusion of Ogun Central from key positions in the state’s political structure over the past eight years, noting that while Ogun East and Ogun West had dominated executive offices, her zone had been left with less influential roles.
“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.
The former Commissier for Health accused leaders of the APC in Ogun State of violating internal democratic processes during the party’s governorship selection, alleging that a consensus candidate was imposed without consultation with other aspirants.
“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 later engaged party leaders in discussions, which, according to her, yielded no result.
“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 earlier decision to join the APC, Iyabo said it was influenced by her admiration for President Bola Tinubu, whom she described as a leader who accords her dignity and respect.
“I joined 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 said the conduct of party leaders in Ogun State fell short of her expectations, prompting her eventual exit.
Obasanjo also revealed that her return to politics was at the instance of her loyalists, who urged her to intervene in what they described as the declining state of affairs in Ogun.
“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 took a swipe at some former political associates, accusing them of betrayal despite benefiting from her support in the past.
“Some of those I helped have turned against me. Anyone I empowered who betrays me will not succeed,” she said.
Senator Obasanjo was officially received into the PDP fold at a massive rally held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta.
The reception was preceded by a procession through major streets in Abeokuta by Senator Obasanjo, flanked by the party’s governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, her supporters, and PDP members from Ogun Central and other parts of the state.
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