…Says international exposure, academic background will drive industrial, ICT revolution in Gateway State
…Insists politics shouldn’t be a lifelong career
A former Senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared that Ogun State is uniquely positioned to make history by producing Nigeria’s first elected female governor.
Speaking with journalists in Abeokuta after a period of international academic engagement, the former Commissioner for Health noted that the state’s high literacy rate and rich history of female leadership—referencing icons like Madam Tinubu and legendary Egba women warriors—make it the natural trailblazer for gender inclusion in governance.
“Ogun State is going to be the first state to have a female governor elected,” she stated confidently. “We’ve had female governors who stepped in for short periods due to various circumstances, but never one elected by the people. It is not strange to have women in leadership in this part of the world.”
Addressing concerns about her decade-long absence from the local political scene, the United States-based scholar argued that her international exposure is a strategic asset rather than a drawback.
She explained that living abroad allowed her to study the intricacies of how local, state, and federal tax systems drive development.
“I see everything through the lens of development. Living abroad helps you understand how government works at the grassroots level. You cannot copy everything exactly, but it gives you ideas on how things can work better in your own society,” she said.
Obasanjo further emphasized that politics should not be viewed as a permanent profession. Drawing a parallel with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she noted that the President took a nearly 20-year hiatus from elective office to run his businesses before returning to the fray.
“Politics is not supposed to be a lifelong career like being an architect or a doctor. It is meant for people to come in from the population, serve, and go back to the people. That way, you don’t have to be in it just to survive,” she added.
Responding to allegations that she is disconnected from the grassroots, the former Senator dismissed the notion as a misconception. She recalled her tenure as Commissioner and her senatorial campaign, during which she visited the most remote villages in Odeda and Obafemi Owode Local Government Areas.
“The grassroots is where my strength is. I am not a ‘high-salutation’ person. During my campaigns, there was no remote village in Ogun Central that I did not visit. Those who know me know I am with the people,” she insisted.
On the thorny issue of zoning and the agitation for an Ogun West governor, Prof. Obasanjo admitted that fairness dictates the region should eventually produce a leader. However, she called for better strategy rather than mere complaints.
“Fair is fair. Just as I believe every region in Nigeria should produce a President—and the Southeast is the only one yet to do so, likewise in Ogun State, the West deserves the governorship. But the Central and East must come together and be strategic about it,” she noted.
Unveiling her vision for the state, she praised the current administration’s industrialization drive but promised to take it further by turning Ogun into the “Guangzhou of Nigeria.” Her plan centers on creating an industrial hub that leverages proximity to Lagos and the sea ports.
“China started by taking factories from America to Guangzhou. Now China is bringing factories here. This is our opportunity. My focus will be jobs, jobs, and more jobs,” she declared.
In the education sector, she proposed the establishment of specialized secondary schools for Science and Technology. The goal, she explained, is to harvest the best minds from primary schools and prepare them for a future dominated by ICT and digital economy.
“I want an ICT hub where our youth can get global jobs. We used to be the cradle of education; we must now become the cradle of technology,” she said, adding that her administration would also prioritize value-added agriculture to ensure the state exports finished products rather than raw materials.
The former Senator also identified tourism as an untapped goldmine for the state. She highlighted the potential of the rail link between Lagos and Abeokuta to transform sites like Olumo Rock and the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) into major revenue earners.
“Tourism provides jobs and brings in disposable income. We need high-class hotels and a seamless experience for visitors. We are moving in that direction, but we are not there yet,” she observed.
On the national economy, she expressed optimism regarding the stabilization of the Naira, noting that predictability in exchange rates is crucial for business growth. She also lauded the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project for its potential to de-congest Ogun State roads.
“The economic stability we are seeing cannot be underestimated. When people can predict income and costs, things get better. We are also seeing improvements in security through international collaboration,” she said.
Concluding her remarks, she reiterated her commitment to a “citizen-politician” model, where leadership is fueled by fresh ideas and a genuine desire for service rather than a struggle for political survival.
As the race for 2027 begins to take shape, her entry into the discourse adds a significant layer to the evolving political landscape of the Gateway State.
