- Safiu Kehinde
Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) as she alleged being disrespected by the party’s Ogun governorship candidate, Sen. Adeola Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi.
Obasanjo annouced her resignation from the party in a letter dated May 31st and addressed to her Ward Chairman.
As contained in the letter, the former Ogun governorship aspirant who stepped down over the party’s consensus agreement alleged disrespect to her person by Adeola.
She also faulted the consensus primaries which saw the emergence of lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District.
Reflecting on the party’s meeting with all aspirants, Obasanjo allegwd not being acknowledged dur9ng the meeting.
“When I started the journey to get the party’s nomination for Governor, I came to see you and I said to you and everyone both privately and publicly that I will honor the party’s consensus decision once it has been made.
“At the venue, with no prior meeting with me as a candidate, given what the national party says in its guidelines on what consensus should be, i.e., having meetings where all candidates agree to the candidate that will be announced, a candidate was announced.
“No one acknowledged my presence at the meeting, given that I was the most prominent opposition to the candidate chosen, and I had traversed the state mobilizing and encouraging grassroots APC support.” She wrote.
Obasanjo further disclosed receiving a call from Adeola who requested to have a meeting woth her and her supporters.
According to the former lawmaker, her supporters had at the meeting made three undisclosed requests which Adeola promised to respond to.
Obasanjo alleged that APC Ogun governorship candidate had since failed to respond to the request after two months since the meeting.
She labelled the non-response as act of disrespect and rejection which further contributed to her membership withdrawal.
“Based on my conviction that party unity is important, I wrote my letter accepting the party’s consensus candidate that night, even with the flawed process.
“The consensus candidate called me the next morning and asked for a meeting with my followers and me, which we had about 2 weeks later.
“At that meeting, my people made 3 requests, which I said were not compulsory, but he should let me know so I would let my people know his responses, and he said I should give him a week.
“Unless he gets back to me after I send this letter, he has not reached out to me after 2 months.
“This is just part of the general treatment I have received from APC of disrespect and rejection, as if I were not there, making contributions that increased support for the party in Ogun Central and across the state.
“A famous person once said that when disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcome. This is my resignation from the party.” Obasanjo wrote.
However, the ex-lawmaker expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Yemi Sanusi, and the Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman, Chief Soremi, for what she described as their warm disposition towards her during her brief stay in the party.
“Through you, I want to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for receiving me warmly as usual, and I thank you and our Ogun Central Senatorial Chairman, Chief Soremi, as both of you treated me well, and I will always remember that. Best Regards.” She added.