Daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, says she is going to be the next governor of Ogun State.

“I’m going to win,” she declared on Wednesday while featuring on “Frontline,” an interactive programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, which was monitored by Daily Trust correspondent.

Obasanjo recently returned to active politics after 15 years, joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and declared her intention to run in the governorship race.

She represented Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011.

But the renowned epidemiologist and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health lost her re-election bid in 2011 to Senator Gbenga Obadara of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

She subsequently returned to the United States to pursue her academic career, rising to the rank of professor.

Speaking on the programme, Obasanjo reiterated her governorship ambition, which she hinged on the need to bridge governance “gaps” in the state and make an impact on the lives of Ogun people.

The former senator said she loves making an impact in citizens’ lives because she lives a “life of giving more than I take.”

She said, “The position I’m going to run for is governor, and I believe it fits the skills I bring to the table. As Ogun citizens, I hope that when I’m governor, I will touch your life either directly or indirectly in a way that will improve your lives.”

Responding to a question on agitation for power shift to Ogun West, the former senator expressed worry that the region has not produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State 50 years ago.

She, however, maintained that power rotation is not constitutional.

“The reason we have not had a governor from Ogun West cannot be blamed on Ogun Central, right? We’ve had — and the man (referring to a caller on the programme) mentioned the number of governors from Central — two of them. He did not mention the number from the East.

“We’ve had three from Ogun East. So, is Central to blame for West? Personally, I was instructed to help late General Olurin when he became the PDP candidate. I walked, we went and strutted and took him around. It did not work,” the former commissioner said.

Asked if she intends to play the gender card in the race, she responded, “I try not to use gender in this because I know the sentiment for people in the West in terms of this is very high, and I am very sensitive to their cry and I understand it.”

She promised to push for the emergence of an Ogun West governor after her “tenure” as governor.

“I know what we need to do to make sure that the next governor after me is from the West. Yes, after me, because I’m going to win,” Obasanjo declared.

Obasanjo identified timing and money as two disadvantages in her race for governorship.

“So, I’m coming in with two disadvantages, as I see it. Time, because I came in a little late.

“I don’t think money makes elections. I know that it’s hard to believe in Nigeria, where money is so important in everything. I believe that people are good people, and they know who will do right by them.

“So, I’m very confident. The confidence comes from just why I’m back — that people saw what I did,” she said.

On her chances of clinching the APC ticket over other party bigwigs, Obasanjo said, “I’m as confident… Everybody is politicking. There is no reason why I shouldn’t be out there politicking with them if I want the post or any other post. I’m just like anybody else.

“So, is it 100%? It’s not 100% for anybody, and it’s not 100% for me. But I will do everything I can to make sure I’m the candidate.” (Daily Trust)

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