A former senator representing Ogun Central, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has ruled out a return to the Senate. She also declared that her political focus is now on a possible bid for the Ogun State governorship.
Obasanjo, daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, made this known on Saturday during an interview on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, where she also confirmed her return to active partisan politics and recent membership of the All Progressives Congress.
She said, “So moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate.
“Like the American would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The former Ogun State Commissioner for Health said her return to politics followed sustained pressure from supporters who had been mobilising for her comeback.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Obasanjo recently participated in the APC’s e-registration exercise, formalising her membership of the ruling party.
PUNCH Online reports that her registration with the APC was confirmed by a former chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government and ally, Hon. Biodun Ajayi, who said she completed her online registration as member of the party at Ibogun Ward 11 in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. A former House of Representatives member also corroborated the report.
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party also said it wished her well following reports of her registration with the ruling party.
Her return comes about 15 years after leaving frontline politics following her tenure as senator between 2007 and 2011.
Obasanjo previously served as Ogun State Commissioner for Health before her election to the Senate, after which she relocated to the United States to pursue an academic career.
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