Compassion for Ogun people prompted my defection to PDP — Iyabo Obasanjo

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A former Ogun Central senator and daughter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, has said her decision to leave the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party was driven by her compassion for the people of Ogun Central and her desire to better serve them.

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Obasanjo-Bello stated this during a courtesy visit by members of the Liberty Group to her residence at Obasanjo Hilltop in Abeokuta.

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The former senator said the PDP’s people-oriented philosophy aligns with her passion for humanitarian service.

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This was contained in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday.

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“I like helping people, and PDP as a party has always been a people-centred party, which further helps me to spread my philanthropic gesture to my constituents,” she said.

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She added that her endorsement by various political support groups, particularly the Liberty Group, reflected what she described as her record of service and philanthropic efforts while serving as Ogun State Commissioner for Health and later as senator representing Ogun Central.

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Obasanjo-Bello also pledged to bring the various support groups together under the PDP platform.

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“I promise to integrate all the groups into our platform as well as assure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of my total support in the coming general election,” she said.

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She maintained that the APC no longer aligned with her vision for the people of Ogun Central, prompting her defection to the PDP.

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Earlier, the leader of the Liberty Group, Kazeem Adedoyin, said the group drew its membership from Ifo, Ewekoro, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode local government areas.

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According to him, the group’s endorsement of Obasanjo-Bello was based on what he described as her achievements while representing Ogun Central in the Senate between 2007 and 2011.

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Adedoyin said more than 95 per cent of the group’s members possess Permanent Voter Cards and pledged their support for Obasanjo-Bello and the PDP in the next general election.

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He also declared the group’s support for PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu in the forthcoming election.

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PUNCH Online reports that Obasanjo-Bello resigned from the ruling APC on May 31, alleging persistent disrespect, rejection and unfair treatment by the party’s leadership in Ogun State.

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The resignation came after her attempt to secure the party’s governorship ticket failed.

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The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology criticised the consensus process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) as the party’s governorship candidate, describing it as inconsistent with the APC’s guidelines.

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According to her, although she had pledged to abide by any consensus arrangement adopted by the party, she was neither consulted nor involved in the process before Adeola was announced as the consensus candidate.

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She also alleged that some of her supporters were prevented from entering the venue where the candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation.

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