A former governorship aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo has declared she would not defect to another party, following the consensus arrangement which produced Senator Solomon Olamilekan as the governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress in the state for the 2027 polls.
The party chieftain made this known to journalists during an interview and hinted that the governorship candidate, Solomon Olamilekan popularly called Yayi has put a phone call across to her in acknowledging her spirit of sportsmanship
‘All through my consultation for nomination for the governorship of Ogun State under APC, I said I believed in consensus as the way to reduce tension and infighting for the party to be successful in next year’s elections. I also said I would abide by the consensus decision no matter which way it went. I have stood by that commitment even when disrespected and not acknowledged’, she said.
Obasanjo who held proactive consultations with elders of the party across the local government areas and state level in the course of her ambition, however, frowned at how some of her party supporters were attacked during the consensus arrangement meeting.
The former aspirant who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007-2011, pointed out that, that was not fair enough, adding she and Tunde Lemo another governorship aspirant were not acknowledge by the party leadership at the meeting, which should not have been so
‘The Ogun State caucus meeting announcement for April 13th, indicated that all former national assembly members and all current gubernatorial candidates were invited and since I fit into those two categories, I attended’.
‘At the entrance, some of my supporters wanted to enter and were barred and I asked them to go back and as I was admonishing them, one of the state party functionaries started throwing punches at two of them.
‘I brought out my phone to make a video of the unprovoked attack and I was told to not do so for the party’s sake and I saw the sense in this argument. The two individuals had to get medical attention that day and one has a cut on his hand that required stitches and bandaging’.
‘During the program, the governor acknowledged that he spoke to the two gubernatorial candidates that were from Yewa and asked them to step down for Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) and he asked them to stand up and he thanked them’.
‘There was no acknowledgement of any of the candidates from any other zone including I and Mr Tunde Lemo who were in the room. My efforts traversing the state consulting and hearing from APC leaders and local government, and ward party members that filled members with joy and my overwhelming momentum that was cut short was not acknowledged that day or any time since’.
‘I had told a particular party member that I was traveling that Sunday because we had no information on the dates of the selection so I would make a quick trip for a few days before getting back to the consultations. I don’t want to be paranoid but I believe he mentioned this and the meeting was set for a day after I was supposed to have left for my brief trip’.
‘Although I was not acknowledged, nevertheless on the same evening I congratulated Senator Yayi as my word is my bond. I stopped all consultations and activities towards the governorship immediately’.
‘I sent my letter widely across the party and met with my supporters to let them know that we will abide by all party dictates even when some were resistant to doing so. Two days after the consensus, Senator Yayi called me and said he would see me when next in Abeokuta’, she added.
People who fought the consensus results have been acknowledged but as the asprant who had the most momentum in the field, not a word has been spoken to acknowledge the excitement and motivation we gave party members’.
‘Our positive trajectory was stopped by the early consensus but the reason for the consensus to allow for cohesiveness and party unity seems to mean people who gave the most challenge to the consensus candidate are ignored but the people that spoke out with limited field presence are acknowledged’.
‘I remain a loyal party member and I am not defecting to any party and will whole heartedly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his second term because I can see how his presidency is bringing progress and infrastructure to Ogun State, but I plead with local party chieftains to please try and carry everyone along’.
‘All candidates did their part for the party and we should all have been acknowledged to encourage us, and as human beings sometimes just an acknowledgement goes a long way’, she stated
‘My team for one would have loved that their work which everyone in the field acknowledged, was also acknowledged at party level. They remain loyal to the party as I am, and we are still hoping that we get to be asked to participate as the nominations and campaigning moves ahead’.
‘Specifically scheduling meetings when a particular candidate is not around, does not seem to be a way to turn this moment into a unified cohesive march towards electoral success which is what the Governor said was the reasoning for the early consensus’.
‘I will end with two Yoruba proverbs, the first one says, if you keep quiet even your own people will keep quiet with you, and the second, even if you want to get something even from a child you should give them something to replace it. Let those be for our elders’.
The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, stressed that an inclusive united front will move the party forward.
