Iyabo Obasanjo disclosed this during a media parley with journalists held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL)Abeokuta on Saturday.
Speaking on her political journey, Iyabo Obasanjo recalled how she personally visited remote communities across the district while campaigning for the Senate.
According to her, direct interaction with people at the community level has always been central to her political philosophy.
She noted that the most rural local government areas within the district include Odeda Local Government Area and Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, adding that she had visited even the remotest settlements in those areas during her political outreach.
Obasanjo stated “When I campaigned for the Senate, I think there was no remote village in Ogun Central Senatorial District that I did not touch. If you go to those remote villages and ask who has been there before, I will be one of the few politicians they will mention,” she said.
“So when people say I’m not connected to the grassroots, I think the grassroots is actually where my strength is as a politician,” she said.
The former senator also stated how her international exposure and professional background outside politics have shaped her approach to governance.
Obasanjo explained that having built a career before entering politics allows her to view public service primarily as an opportunity to drive development rather than as a lifelong occupation.
She further explained that living abroad provided her with an opportunity to understand how governance works in other societies, particularly the functioning of local governments and tax systems.
“My international exposure helps because I had a career doing something else which I am comfortable with and can return to. It means that when I am in government, I see everything as a development issue, not as something I must hold on to forever,” she said.
“You cannot copy anything exactly from any other country, but a lot of it gives you ideas about how things can work better in your own society,” she said.
The former senator also argued that politics should not be treated as a lifelong profession, noting that democratic governance was designed to allow citizens to participate in leadership and later return to private life.
“Politics is not supposed to be a lifelong career. People should be able to come in from society, serve, and return to their normal lives,” she said.
She cited the example of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who served as governor of Lagos State for eight years and later returned to private life for about two decades before contesting the presidency.
According to her , such a model encourages the emergence of “citizen politicians” who understand society from outside the government and can bring fresh ideas into public service.
“I see governance as something you do to develop society and help people, and then you can move on to other things in or outside politics,” she said.
