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Fawaz Adebisi
Former Ogun State governorship aspirant and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared an all-out political battle against Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, accusing him of betrayal, dishonesty and lack of integrity.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Obasanjo said he decided to demonstrate his political strength after what he described as Yayi’s failure to deliver on promises made to her following the consensus governorship of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“I am on a warpath to prove who I am. My name and that of my family are indelible in the history of Ogun State. Whoever wants to vilify me, will find out the hard way that I am not denigratable,” he said.
The former senator said she would have remained in the APC if the senator had fulfilled commitments allegedly made after the party’s consensus process.
“If he had kept the promises he made that day, we would not be here today. Character matters. Whether you are a street cleaner or the president of a nation, if you have no character, it will ultimately be your downfall,” he said.
Obasanjo accused Adeola of failing to communicate with her after she asked for a week to respond to issues raised during a reconciliation meeting.
“I gave him six weeks. After I resigned, he started calling me. I have never returned his calls and never will. Once you betray my trust, you are dead to me,” he said.
He said his supporters had asked for three concessions during the meeting with the senator; support for his senatorial ambition in the APC, reimbursement of electoral expenses incurred during the governorship race and inclusion of members of his political structure in his administration.
According to her, however, she would have told Adeola that she did not have to accept all the requests but should simply have indicated what she could accept.
“I told him to let me know what he could do so I could explain it to my supporters. Instead, he hasn’t kept his word. I think he’s a man without integrity. He sees people as things to be used,” she said.
She further alleged that the senator later tried to win her over with money.
“He thinks money buys everything. The amount offered was downright insulting,” he added.
Obasanjo also said the APC stopped his governorship ambition because of the momentum generated by his campaign.
“I think the APC stopped what we were doing because we were so successful. If I had continued, there was no way I wouldn’t have beaten Yayi,” he said.
The PDP candidate then announced the commencement of her senatorial campaign, saying she would begin consultations with party structures in the six local government areas of Ogun Central before embarking on wider media engagement.
“Going forward, I will engage more with the media. I am now open to interviews,” she said.
He argued that his confidence was built on his record in public office rather than political patronage.
“I am not a natural beggar. After I left office, I returned to my profession because I have a PhD. I don’t know how to go to Abuja to ask for appointments,” she said.
Highlighting the projects she executed as a senator, including interventions in mechanics’ villages and community infrastructure, Obasanjo argued that her achievements remained visible years after leaving office.
“Politics is about improving people’s lives. If you can’t make things better for individuals and society, there’s no point in politics,” he said.
Expressing confidence ahead of the elections, she described herself as the candidate to beat in Ogun Central.
“In Ogun Central, I believe I am unbeatable. People know my brand because they have seen what I have done. My focus is on my senatorial district and we will win it,” he said.
He also dismissed concerns about holding presidential and National Assembly elections simultaneously, insisting that voters are able to distinguish between candidates.
“Our people are not stupid. They know who they want to vote for,” he said.
Regarding concerns over election violence, Obasanjo said citizens will peacefully defend their votes.
“We are citizens and we will defend our rights. No violence can stop people from voting for whoever they want.”
She further stated that her nomination was in accordance with electoral requirements, stressing that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had accepted her as the Ogun Central senatorial candidate of the PDP.
“We met the deadline. I was within the time limit and INEC accepted me as the PDP candidate,” he said.
She, therefore, stressed that she will not stop, vowing to reduce Yayi to “pulp”.
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