Iyabo Obasanjo Quits Ruling Party, Cites Maltreatment, Rejection, Disrespect in APC

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Citing maltreatment, rejection and lack of respect from the leadership of the party, a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Ogun State, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned from the ruling party.

Obasanjo’s resignation was contained in a letter dated May 31 written to the state chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi.

The Professor of Epidemiology and first child of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, particularly faulted the consensus arrangement that produced the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, as the party’s governorship candidate.

She said the arrangement that produced him fell short of the party’s spelt out rules and guidelines.

Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central between 2007 to 2011, stated that she had although told the party leadership from outset that she would abide by the party’s consensus arrangement, the party leadership did not consult her before announcing Adeola fondly called Yayi as the party’s consensus governorship candidate, against the laid down rules.

She alleged that even her supporters were violently manhandled and were not even allowed to enter the venue where the consensus governorship candidate of Adeola was announced.

Obasanjo added that she had stomach this irregularities and in the spirit of respecting party decision issued a statement on the night that Yayi was picked as the party’s consensus governorship candidate congratulating him and pledging to support his gubernatorial race.

She revealed further that Adeola called her on the second day to appreciate her magnanimity and promised to personally come to visit her which she said he did two weeks after.

The epidemiologist said during the visit her supporters had made three requests on which she had even told the senator was not compulsory but that he should let them know if he would be able to attend to the requests.

The professor said the Senator promised to get back within one week but over two months, there had been no response from the lawmaker.

The former Commissioner regrettably said with the maltreatment and cold rejection, she had suffered since joining the party, she was left with no choice than to quit the party.

She, however, lauded President Bola Tinubu for his support as well as the favourable disposition of the state party chairman, Sanusi, and that of the Ogun Central senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi while her stint with the ruling party lasted.