Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the eldest daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday made her first public appearance several years after leaving office as a lawmaker.
Obasanjo-Bello represented Ogun Central Senatorial District at the Senate between 2007 and 2011, but lost her re-election bid in 2011.
She lost the senatorial election to Senator Gbenga Obadara who ran on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Obasanjo-Bello, who served as the Commissioner for Health in Ogun State under former governor Gbenga Daniel between 2003 and 2007, disappeared from public scene shortly after the election 2011 election.
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The former president’s daughter was said to have relocated abroad where she took up a lecturing job.
However, 12 years after, Obasanjo-Bello made a dramatic appearance on Thursday at a reception organised by distinguished sons and daughters of Egbaland to honour the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji-Ishola.
The event, which was held on the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, had in attendance the former governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola.
Clad in a blue bubu gown made of local Adire fabric, Obasanjo-Bello walked into the hall filled with prominent Egba monarchs, politicians and other personalities.
Our correspondent also observed the large poster at the entrance of the presidential library, welcoming Tunji-Ishola back home.
Obasanjo-Bello, in a brief chat with journalists, described Tunji-Ishola as a rare gift to Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
“He (Tunji-Ishola) just ended being such a wonderful gift to the nation. I hope he will continue to have success. I hope he continues to have active participation in politics and I hope he continues to have positions where he can contribute to the growth of the state and the country.”
