Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo has declared that Ogun State will produce Nigeria’s first elected female governor in 2027 if she emerges as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking with journalists at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, she said Ogun possesses the historical and educational foundation to lead the country in gender inclusion.
“Ogun State will be the first to elect a female governor if I am given the opportunity,” she said, outlining what she described as a development-driven agenda anchored on industrial growth, agricultural value addition, education reform, technology advancement, tourism expansion, improved transportation and job creation.
The former senator, who represented Ogun Central between 2007 and 2011, argued that she is well qualified to break the political ceiling, citing the state’s high literacy rate and legacy of strong female leadership in Egbaland.
“With specific references to icons like the late Madam Tinubu and legendary Egba women warriors, Ogun is naturally positioned to blaze the trail for gender inclusion in governance,” she said.
Addressing agitation from Ogun West Senatorial District over producing the next governor, Iyabo maintained that it was not the fault of Ogun Central that Ogun West has yet to produce a governor since the state’s creation on February 3, 1976.
She recalled that her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside other leaders from Ogun Central, had worked towards the emergence of a Yewa-Awori governor without success.
She added that Ogun West may only realise its ambition through a political agreement or consensus between Ogun East and Ogun Central to concede the governorship slot.
Beyond her governorship ambition, Iyabo advocated legislative reforms to limit how long lawmakers can occupy elective offices.
“Politics should not be a lifelong profession. Democracy was designed as government of the people, by the people, for the people: where citizens serve and then return to private life,” she said.
Citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she noted that he served eight years as governor before spending years outside elective office prior to contesting the presidency.
“He remained active politically, but he was not in elective office during that period. That is healthy for democracy. Politics should not be permanent. Citizens should be able to step in, serve, step out and return if necessary. That keeps leadership fresh and accountable,” she added.
On national economic issues, Iyabo applauded the Tinubu administration for what she described as the stabilisation of the naira.
“One is the stabilisation of the Naira. Stabilisation of the Naira, what that does is that people can predict how much money they will spend in imports and how much income they will get. So stabilisation of the Naira is a big one,” she said.
She also referenced federal infrastructure projects, including the road to Calabar, arguing that such investments would enhance port connectivity and ease transportation to the East.
“I think that the economic stability cannot be underestimated because when people can predict income and exports, they do it, things get better,” she stated.
She further pointed to what she described as improvements in security through increased collaboration and international engagements.
“There are also some improvements in security, mainly because now we have a lot of collaboration going on. The international collaboration, the President’s visit to different countries for trade, economic development is rising. And that is the key to everything we do,” she said.
Credit: Leadership