A public symposium turned into a comedic arena on Friday evening as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his lookalike daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, engaged in a playful exchange of banter. The event, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was part of the celebration of the Odun Omo Olowu festival. The symposium, themed "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Solve Grassroots Problems and Accelerate National Development," featured Iyabo as one of the panellists.
Iyabo, a former commissioner for health and a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ogun Central Senatorial District election, acknowledged the dignitaries present, including her father, who is also the Balogun of Owu Kingdom. However, in a surprising remark, she referred to Obasanjo as "who I don’t know," throwing the audience into laughter. This set the tone for a lighthearted discussion, with Obasanjo subsequently taking the microphone and playfully taking a swipe at his daughter.
Obasanjo, who admitted to knowing little about artificial intelligence (AI), warned that anything beyond one's control could be abused. He cited Iyabo's remark about not knowing him as an example of AI abuse. The audience erupted in laughter at this exchange. Obasanjo also spoke about the challenges facing the Nigerian economy, including the blind adoption of economic prescriptions from young, foreign-trained experts.
The former president expressed concerns about the influence of foreign-trained experts on Nigeria's economy. He mentioned that some of his children, including Iyabo, had attended prestigious universities such as Ivy League universities, Oxford, and Cambridge. However, he questioned how Iyabo, despite her education, could advise him on running his home.
The playful banter between Obasanjo and Iyabo comes after they publicly fell out following a scathing letter written by Iyabo to her father. However, Iyabo has since dismissed speculation about a possible rift between her and her father, describing their relationship as a close bond that has grown beyond the traditional father-daughter connection.
Iyabo and Obasanjo have reunited, and their relationship has evolved over the years, with friendship becoming an important part of their connection. Iyabo, who will turn 60 next year, and Obasanjo, who will be 90 next year, have a deep connection that goes beyond a traditional father-daughter relationship.
Iyabo returned to active politics in her home state early this year after 15 years. She represented Ogun Central in the Senate between 2011 and 2017 but lost her re-election bid. She has since rejoined the PDP and has been handed the senatorial ticket for Ogun Central ahead of the 2027 general election.
Key points
- Obasanjo and Iyabo engaged in playful banter at a public symposium in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
- The exchange was part of a symposium themed "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Solve Grassroots Problems and Accelerate National Development."
- Obasanjo and Iyabo have reunited after a public fallout and have a deep connection that goes beyond a traditional father-daughter relationship.
