TAYO OYEKANMI
Sen Iyabo Obasanjo was once a famous name in Ogun State political space. She wasn’t popular for any major milestone but very famous for lot of wrong reasons before she went on self imposed self exile. Until recently when she found her lost voice, she has abandoned the shore of Nigeria for over a decade for her private endeavor . She’s back now wanting to be Governor. Nothing should be wrong with that. She’s more than qualified. But taking people of Ogun State for granted, thinking we are suffering from collective amnesia isn’t a good way to start her political resurgence and neither will talking from both sides of her mouth in an unstrained manner give her the Governorship seat.
Let’s go down not too far a memory lane to understand the personality of Sen Iyabo Obasanjo (maybe “Bello” might have been dropped from her name as per divorce ). Iyabo Obasanjo became the Commissioner for Health in Ogun State aftermath of Otunba Gbenga Daniel emergence as Governor in 2003. For a Veterinary Doctor to be appointed as Commissioner for Health should be considered an achievement though. Even beyond the fact that, that position was attained on the account of the father being the sitting President. OGD was playing the power game to appreciate and be in the good book of the power that be at that time. All through her commissionership, she was rancourous and canterkerous best. Her staff and career officers were always at the receiving end of her sharp tongue. Stories of her shouting match in the office were replete.
When she proceeded to the Senate in 2007, OGD felt a temporary sign of relive. But that didn’t last long. Make no mistake about it, she actually won the 2007 Senatorial race on the account of the greatest political and electoral blitzkrieg in the history of Nigeria supervised by Prof Maurice Iwu, the then INEC chairman. By 2011 when her father was no longer in the saddle, she lost woefully even as a sitting Senator to new cormer, Sen Gbenga Obadara who polled over 102, 000 votes to Sen Iyabo Obasanjo 50,000. A political shellacking you will say.
Back to the trajectory. After her emergence as Senator in 2007, her fight with OGD became open almost immediately. By 2008, she caused a spectacle at Ogbomosho during the wedding ceremony of Governor Akala’s daughter. She picked up a fight with OGD and his security details right inside the church, a supposedly solemn place. But not for Sen Iyabo Obasanjo. She was basically unstrained and implacable. She even went to hit one of the security details at the chest. That’s vintage Iyabo Obasanjo for you. All these happened in the presence of dignitaries across the country with cameras all over the place.
Around 2008 thereabouts, Sen Iyabo Obasanjo was linked in an investigation that got the Minister of Health, Prof Adenike Grange removed from cabinet. The sleeze was about budget unspent fund that was mismanaged with money growing wings for travel that did not take place. Iyabo Obasanjo was the Chairman Senate Committee on health at that point in time. She was invited by the anti-graf agency and instead of honoring the invitation, she went into hiding for weeks purportedly at the then Senate President quarters thereby enjoying the sanctity of immunity of that abode. A clean conscience fear no accusation they say but not so for Sen Iyabo.That was the period I was serving in National Assembly as a Corp member and I had opportunity of observing Sen Iyabo Obasanjo at closed quarter even with courtesy visit to her office with fellow Corp members. I have my impression of her person.
In year 2013, Sen Iyabo Obasanjo took a public umbrage against her father, Chief Olusegun Mathew Okikiolu Obasanjo. She wrote a stinker of a letter accusing him of all sorts. Till date, I am not aware she recanted on her umbrage against her biological father. Since then, she has been offshore only to resurface recently blowing hot and cold on a dreamed, albeit coerced ambition.
This is the kind of character now wanting to be Governor. What exemplary traits are we going to imbibe from her? What mentorship are the people of Ogun State going to learn from her? Putting into consideration that old habits dies hard as they say. What have she contributed in public offices she has held?
It’s even more baffling that the vintage Iyabo Obasanjo captured above is the one referring to Sen Olamilekan Adeola Yayi, the senator representing Ogun West as opportunitist for representing his people effectively. For the record, Sen Yayi has never for once left the fold of the progressive. Not for one day. If Sen Iyabo is not opportunitist, why not stay put in PDP, help in addressing the challenges confronting the party and contest from there. At least that was the party that produces her as a Senator. Or better still, go to ADC where her once upon a time shepherd is superintending over the affairs of the party. I’m talking about no other person than Senator David Mark. Why APC, where she has contributed nothing to the development of the party. Opportunitist must mean different thing to Sen Iyabo Obasanjo except she is suffering from some form of political befuddlement.
APC as a party has conducted her Ward and Local Government congresses across the country. We saw Sen Yayi participating actively in both activities thus far at Ilaro. He was physically present in spite of his onerous duties at the senate superintending over the budget of Nigeria. Not so for Sen Iyabo Obasanjo, she was not seen near the two exercises. Not even at the Stakeholders Meeting presided over by Governor Dapo Abiodun. Her present preoccupation is stone throwing against Yayi and justifying her volte face on participation in politics. That should be expected though. Yayi is the most popular Governorship contender today and political wannabes needs him to be used as a lunch pad for their ill conceived ambition. Fortunately, Ogun people are too sophisticated for a juvenile game and strategy of this nature. If you are in doubt of the popularity and acceptability of Sen Yayi in Ogun State today, go and conduct a mock election at Ita Iyalode in front Sen Iyabo Obasanjo father’s house between Sen Yayi and the rest. I need not preempt the result. But I’m sure of two things. Sen Yayi will win handsomely while Sen Iyabo Obasanjo might come top from the rear. You have an assignment in your hand if you are in doubt. A simple sampling exercise will do. Sen Iyabo Obasanjo is no danger to anyone ambition in Ogun State not to talk of Sen Yayi. She is just not there politically and in her words is doing the bidding of some people. She is not self motivated in this enterprise.
For us in Ogun West and indeed other parts of Ogun state that are beneficiaries of his practice of good governance , Sen Yayi can’t be regarded as an opportunitist. Better still, he’s the harbinger of opportunities for everyone. Be it any political office holders in Ogun West today. Yayi is the man that changed the story of Ogun West. He changed our psyche. He changed our landscape. He changed our economy. Someone that gives you hope of a better rewarding future can’t be regarded as an opportunitist. He should rightly be seen as a God sent. The real opportunist is Iyabo Obasanjo.
– Tayo Oyekanmi writes for Ipokia, Ogun State.