I’m Confident of Winning Ogun APC Gov Ticket — Iyabo Obasanjo

The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has said she is confident of securing the All Progressives Congress 2027 governorship ticket for Ogun State.

Obasanjo added that she intends to become the next governor because she has all it takes, including the support of the people, to win the governorship contest in 2027.

The former senator representing Ogun Central disclosed this during a radio interview programme with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, monitored on Wednesday.

Obasanjo recently completed her e-registration as a member of the APC in Ibogun, Ward 11, Ifo Local Government, and formally declared her intention to contest in the 2027 governorship race.

Her return to active politics comes 15 years after she lost her bid to return to the Senate in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria.

She subsequently returned to the United States to pursue an academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Speaking on the programme, Obasanjo reiterated her governorship ambition, which she said is driven by the need to bridge governance “gaps” in the state and positively impact the lives of Ogun people.

“The position I’m going to run for is governor, and I believe it fits the skills I bring to the table. As Ogun citizens, I hope that when I’m governor, I will touch your life either directly or indirectly in a way that will improve your lives,” she said.

On agitation for a power shift to Ogun West, Obasanjo expressed concern that the region has not produced a governor since the creation of the state 50 years ago.

She, however, maintained that power rotation is not constitutional.

“The reason we have not had a governor from Ogun West cannot be blamed on Ogun Central, right? Somebody mentioned the number of governors from Central — two of them. He did not mention the number from the East.

“We’ve had three from Ogun East. So, is Central to blame for the West? Personally, I was instructed to help late General Olurin when he became the PDP candidate in 2011. I worked, and we took him around. It did not work,” she said.

Asked if she intends to play the gender card in the race, Obasanjo replied, “I try not to use gender in this because I know the sentiment for people in the West in terms of this is very high, and I am very sensitive to their cry, and I understand it.”

She also promised to push for the emergence of an Ogun West governor after her “tenure” as governor.

“I know what we need to do to make sure that the next governor after me is from the West. Yes, after me, because I’m going to win,” Obasanjo declared.

Obasanjo identified timing and money as two disadvantages in her race for governorship.

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“So, I’m coming in with two disadvantages, as I see it. Time, because I came in a little late. I don’t think money makes elections. I know that it’s hard to believe in Nigeria, where money is so important in everything.

“I believe that people are good people, and they know who will do right by them. So, I’m very confident. The confidence comes from just why I’m back — that people saw what I did,” she said.

On her chances of clinching the APC ticket over other party bigwigs, Obasanjo said, “I’m as confident… Everybody is politicking. There is no reason why I shouldn’t be out there politicking with them if I want the post or any other post. I’m just like anybody else. So, is it 100 per cent? It’s not 100 per cent for anybody, and it’s not 100% for me. But I will do everything I can to make sure I’m the candidate.”

A list of people likely to contest for the 2027 governorship seat in Ogun State includes Sen. Adeola Solomon (“Yayi”) representing Ogun West, former Nigerian Ambassador to the UK Sarafadeen Tunji Ishola, three-time governorship candidate Gboyega Isiaka, Dr. Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Hon. Ladipupo Adebutu, among others.