ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Ogun Central Senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, says her decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was motivated by her desire to better serve the people of Ogun Central through a platform she believes shares her humanitarian ideals.
Obasanjo-Bello made this known while receiving members of the Liberty Group during a courtesy visit to her residence at Obasanjo Hilltop in Abeokuta.
Her position was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.
According to the former senator, the PDP’s people-oriented philosophy aligns with her long-standing passion for helping others and expanding her philanthropic activities.
“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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Obasanjo-Bello noted that the endorsement she has received from various political support groups, particularly the Liberty Group, reflects her record of public service while serving as Ogun State Commissioner for Health and later as the senator representing Ogun Central.
She also promised to unite all her support groups under the PDP platform ahead of future political activities.
“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 stated.
The former lawmaker maintained that the APC no longer reflects her vision and aspirations for the people of Ogun Central, a development she said informed her decision to defect to the PDP.
Earlier, the leader of the Liberty Group, Kazeem Adedoyin, said the organisation draws its membership from Ifo, Ewekoro, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi-Owode Local Government Areas of Ogun State.
Adedoyin explained that the group’s endorsement of Obasanjo-Bello was based on what members considered her impressive performance while representing Ogun Central Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011.
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He disclosed that more than 95 per cent of the group’s members possess Permanent Voter Cards and pledged their support for both Obasanjo-Bello and the PDP in the next general election.
He also declared the group’s backing for the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu.
Obasanjo-Bello resigned from the ruling APC on May 31, citing persistent disrespect, rejection and unfair treatment by the party leadership in Ogun State.
Her resignation followed the unsuccessful bid to secure the APC governorship ticket.
The United States-based Associate Professor of Epidemiology had criticised the consensus process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) as the party’s governorship candidate, describing the exercise as inconsistent with the APC’s guidelines.
She argued that although she had agreed to abide by any consensus arrangement adopted by the party, she was neither consulted nor involved in the process before Adeola was eventually announced as the consensus candidate.
Obasanjo-Bello also alleged that some of her supporters were denied access to the venue where the governorship candidate was unveiled and were subjected to intimidation.