The Former Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Iyabo Anisulowo, has admitted that the Egbas and Ijebus have major role to play for a Governor in Ogun State to emerge successfully from Ogun West of the State
Penpushing reports that Anisulowo made this known as a press conference held at the conference hall of Penpushing Media Corporate Headquarters located in Leme axis of Moshood Abiola way, Abeokuta.
The former Governorship candidate emphasizing that her concern is the fact that the Egba people and the Ijebus are vital in the emancipation of Yewa person becoming the governor of Ogun State, stressing that without their strong will politically it may be a bit difficult.
“My concern is the fact that the Egba people and the Ijebus are vital in the emancipation of Yewa person becoming the governor of Ogun State. And without their strong will politically it may be a bit difficult. The person that will be the governor of Ogun must be acceptable to the Egbas, must be acceptable to the Ijebus and then must also be popular at home,” she said.
Penpushing further reports that Anisulowo reflecting on one of the most difficult moments in her career, recalled her removal as Secretary to the Local Government in Egbado South, describing the experience as painful at the time.
“Well, the most significant moment to me was when I was removed as secretary to the local government. It was very painful, but 48 hours later it turned to joy. Because I came into politics from a private life. I don’t know whether you know that I’m a trained educational broadcaster. I was in Radio Nigeria educational service.”
Penpushing also reports that Anisulowo, a known frankly speaking politician explained that,her early political experience in local government administration in the 1990s, exposed her to corruption in public service, which she said she refused to participate in, boasting that she had never take bribe throughout her career
The renowned politician who will be 75 on Saturday, March 21, 2026 with a launch of her memoir explained that her stance against corruption contributed to her exit from local government politics in 1992.
Penpushing reports that Anisulowo expressed concern about the limited number of women in governance in Nigeria, despite increasing female participation in politics, stressing that there are many women in politics but very few in governance.
‘There are many women in politics but very few in governance, and that is part of our underdevelopment. We have always been saying women are more than men. But you see the only thing that can prove it is the political involvement of women and using their number to change circumstances which has not happened’, she emphasised
Penpushing further reports that while rejecting the popular claim that women undermine one another politically, argued that the rising cost of politics and the influence of political godfathers have weakened women’s independence in political parties
“It’s because the cost of politics changed. Changed. When we joined, we didn’t have Godfathers. We never had Godfathers. Fathers. When we joined politics, we joined because of the interest and the flair to make a difference’.
‘As women, we are using our own resources. With our own money, nobody takes us to meetings. You go to meetings if there is a need to pay some dues, you pay your dues as a woman, as a man. So, you are recognized’.
‘But over the years, women became appendages to men. And so, if a man takes you to a political meeting, what will you say there? What are you going to say there? What gives you the audacity to say this is my opinion?’
‘In our time, you speak your opinion. And most of them were leaders at that time because of our education, because of our exposures, where we were born and trained, they respected our opinion’.
‘They may frown at first, later when they come together, they always say, “Let’s consider what this woman has just said.” You were mostly respected. Now, women are not respected at all. Because they have made themselves appendages of men at the political party levels. Even the chosen women leaders, they don’t compete for it’, Anisulowo said
Penpushing also reports that she paid tribute to pioneering women who supported female political participation, including Bolanle Awe, Molara Ogundipe and Chief Mrs Titi Ajanaku, saying that they sponsored their colleagues on their political aspirations
“These are not politicians but they are women who sponsored women. Those were the women that were behind the scene and they put in their resources to make sure that other women benefit. But you see, how many women have I raised politically? There are too many. But where are they today?”
Penpushing reports that Anisulowo pointed out that although many people regard her as a strong personality, the autobiography to be launch offers a fuller picture of her background and experiences in Nigerian politics, particularly as a woman navigating a political environment with limited opportunities for female participation.
The Yewa born Anisulowo who rose from grassroots as a Mathematics and Physics teacher to become a local government secretary, Minister of State for Education and later a Senator, added that the book also recounts her aborted governorship ambition, her kidnap ordeal and eventual escape
Penpushing further reports that she expressed concern over what she described as the continued marginalisation of the Ogun West Senatorial District, recalling her decision to contest the governorship of Ogun State in 1999 on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party was motivated by a desire to end what she described as a political jinx against the district.
The former federal lawmaker pointed out that the alliance between the then Alliance for Democracy and the All Peoples Party (APP) eventually produced a governorship candidate from the Egba axis, which ended her ambition to contest on the All Peoples Party (APP) platform.
“It is no longer a matter of speculation that we are marginalised; it is real. That was what actually prompted me to run for the governorship of Ogun State in 1999. We are marginalised — there is no doubt about that, even up till now’, she said.
“The marginalisation started from the early political demarcations. For a long time we had only two local governments and, if not for God and my efforts, Yewa would not have had the two additional local governments we have today’.
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