The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has thrown his weight behind the governorship ambition of Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, describing her bid as both constitutional and timely for the state.

Speaking after hosting the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a private visit to his palace, the monarch said Iyabo Obasanjo possesses the pedigree, experience and character required to lead Ogun into a new phase of development.

Oba Akinyemi framed her aspiration as part of a broader push for women’s inclusion in governance, arguing that Ogun’s history is rich with formidable female figures who shaped politics and commerce. He cited historical icons such as Efunsetan Aniwura and Madam Efunroye Tinubu, as well as contemporary leaders like the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, as evidence that Ogun women have long demonstrated capacity for leadership.

The monarch recalled Iyabo Obasanjo’s record as Ogun State Commissioner for Health between 2003 and 2007 and as a senator from 2007 to 2011, noting that her public service and professional background as a medical doctor and epidemiologist give her a strong foundation for the governorship.

He also highlighted her philanthropic work through the Iyanuwura Foundation, which he said had “built human capacity across the state” and left a lasting impact in several communities.

Oba Akinyemi stressed that democracy demands open competition, not gender-based exclusion, drawing parallels with Western democracies where women routinely occupy top offices. He argued that Nigerian men must “have a rethink” and expand political space for women, insisting that no constitutional barrier exists to prevent a woman from governing Ogun State.

While affirming her right to contest, the royal father was careful to clarify that Iyabo Obasanjo’s visit was not a formal quest for royal endorsement but a private engagement. He added that when the political season fully opens, she knows the appropriate channels to pursue.

The visit also underscored ongoing political realignments in Ogun, with the monarch calling for cooperation across the state’s three senatorial districts and noting that aspirants from Ogun West have been reaching out to stakeholders in Ogun Central and beyond.

Iyabo Obasanjo, who recently registered with the All Progressives Congress, has publicly ruled out a return to the Senate, declaring that the only office she is seeking is the Ogun governorship in 2027.