2027: Stop the ‘Cosmetic Shows’ and Face Reality, Iyabo Obasanjo Blasts Female Politicians

​ABUJA – Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, a frontrunner for the Ogun State governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has delivered a blistering critique of the “superficiality” currently plaguing women in Nigerian politics, warning that the quest for glamour is costing the gender its seat at the table of power.

​Speaking during a high-level consultation with media executives in Abuja, the Professor of Epidemiology and Veterinary Medicine did not mince words. She challenged women to trade their “precious hours” spent on physical adornment for rigorous field-level mobilization if they truly intend to dismantle the long-standing male dominance in governance.

​The Death of Tokenism

​Operating under the political mantra “Iyaniwura” (Mother is Gold), the former Senator emphasized that the era of seeking leadership through gender sympathy or “token” appointments is over.

​”The reality is that if we want to contest with men and win resoundingly, we must move beyond the quest for glamour,” she stated. “No more tokenism. Women have real potential to lead and govern well, but we must raise the bar because there are no free seats in politics.”

​Competence Over Cosmetics

​Obasanjo, whose governorship bid is already sending ripples through the “Gateway State,” questioned the priorities of modern female aspirants. She noted that while men are “already on the field” strategizing, many women remain distracted by vanity and physical attributes that do not translate into electoral value.

​”Where do we as women have the time to waste precious hours adorning the hair and doing cosmetic shows while the men we are competing with are already on the field?” she asked. “The time is ripe to prioritize mental, leadership, and natural entrepreneurial capabilities over vain shows.”

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​A Vision for Ogun State

​Her candidacy, she noted, is not merely a symbolic gesture but a mission to become Nigeria’s first elected female Governor. Drawing on her international exposure and deep grassroots connections across Ogun’s four geopolitical zones—Remo, Ijebu, Yewa, and Egba—she promised to unleash developmental strides that go beyond the surface.

​Obasanjo expressed profound gratitude for the “overwhelming endorsement” she has received across the state within a short period, framing her race as a “wake-up call” for the entire womenfolk to take governance seriously.