Current health commissioner for Ogun State, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of Nigeria's President, Olusegun Obasanjo, is a woman with a clear mission. On April 21st, 2007, she wants to emerge as Senator for Ogun State Central District. Known for her straight shooter personality, Dr. Obasanjo-Bello makes no apologies for being her father's daughter. In this interview, conducted June of 2006 when she visited the United States, she shares her position on healthcare, education, employment, foreign investments and women in politics. She also answers the question most are dying to know: Is she qualified to be a senator or is it just a case of nepotism?

[Nigeria] inherited the British system of healthcare and a lot of citizens have been promised all kinds of health services. Practically, they have seen [unfulfilled promises]. How do you propose to change the [unfulfilled promises] should you be elected to the senate?

IOB: I think there are lots of reforms going on. For example, there is a program where all the teaching hospitals are being renovated. I think two have been completed and two more [are] to be completed before the end of the year . . . Not only have [these hospitals] been renovated, they have the state of the art equipment, CT scans, mammography and the staff are being trained to use [these] equipment. So, these are some of the reforms. Also, the National Health Insurance has started since last year and has also been a major part of the reform. The HMOs are also getting into the private sector. They have what we call the "Organized Private Sector", which [are] [comprised] of [l]arge companies and health organizations.The "Organized Private Sector" and the marketing heads have to come together to form a group and then establish HMOs. So, those are some of the things going on and I know that health insurance is working quite well for the people that are using it.

Let me transition into education, which is also one of the platforms that you are running on. [Could] you specifically tell me what your proposal is for education reform? What changes would you [make], if any, on a local and national level?

IOB: [Speaking passionately]. . . In terms of education, it is a personal passion of mine. . .We have left the education advantage we had. . . To me, [educational] standards have fallen because people do not believe in [the] standards anymore. I think that you have to have people believe, again, that education is the solution to everything. There was a time in our culture, especially with people from the South West, where everybody thought that once you got your child educated, your future was assured.People have moved away from that. . . Also, a part of the [problem] is that most successful people leave Abeokuta [to] Lagos, Abuja or abroad. We have to be able to attract the best. . .once we attract the best, we can now [elevate] the standards. . . Over the past three years, the governor [Gbenga Daniels of Ogun State] has done a lot. He has hired more teachers, class sizes are smaller and literally looking into the curriculum they are teaching the right things.

Let me interject here. You say we have to "attract the best." You are aware of the "brain drain" resulting in an exodus of highly educated Nigerians to the Diaspora. . . whatincentives do you propose to attract these bright minds back to our schools?

IOB: [Tone getting more excited] Sorry, I always have this argument with people. I am not sure we want to attract everyone from overseas. I don't think we have work for them. . . Attracting people from the Diaspora, [it is] people's choice. I really believe that people will live, eventually, where they feel that they are contributing the most and they are making the most of their lives. I don't have any special incentives that say, "oh you need to attract everybody or people in the diaspora." In Nigeria, for example, just attracting Ogun State indigents in Lagos back to Abeokuta to live would be a major achievement. If people from the diaspora want to join them, good. But, I think that we have been missing the point. I know doctors that are unemployed that need a job. I'm always hiring doctors. Each time we want to employ twenty, I get sixty. So why should I want doctors from abroad? If they want to come and they can create jobs for themselves and the rest of society, then it's all well and good. I know a lot of people in the diaspora who have [returned] home and they do it because they believe it is in [their] best [interest]. I am speaking from personal experience. I made the personal choice for me.

Let's delve into the issue of unemployment. You say, we need "good jobs." Good jobs require trained [workers] and most significantly, especially in manufacturing industries, consistent power supply/electricity. For example, if you take the textile industry in Nigeria, over 50 textile mills are out of business with only one major one in Kaduna barely struggling to stay alive. How do you, if elected to the senate, intend to work with your colleagues to [resolve] unemployment issues in the country?

IOB:. . . The textile that you mention, I think there are now four or five textile companies. There was a time there was only one. And, they have now [returned] in the last three or four years. Really what brought them back was the ban on textiles. I was actually telling a friend who was saying that people still wear so much lace that, nowadays, people wear mostly Ankara. They wear the locally made Ankara for engagements, aso ebi and [so forth]. They are very cheap. They cost less than $15.00, about $10.00 a piece. So, everybody can afford it. Honestly, I think that people realized that it was so expensive to bring in clothes illegally that people are now patronizing the local manufacturers. Electricity is a major issue in manufacturing and even in just everyday life! How to solve the electricity problem? I know the current administration on the federal level has done a lot of work. I know that it is a very difficult issue to solve. If one understands, then there is nothing that is unsolvable. I know for a fact that we are not generating enough energy. That is because in the last 30years no new electricity [power generating] plants have been put into function in Nigeria. Within the same thirty years, the population has more than doubled. So, we have to get several new power generating plants. Then [we] have to decide which kind of power generating plants that [we] are going to get. What is going to power it?[Also], the Niger Delta issue has to be resolved and I think it should be resolved by providing more infrastructure specific to those areas. You cannot provide electricity for the rest of the country and not have electricity in the villages where the gas is being built. We just have to make [jobs] a priority in everything we do in [our] country.. . When you have over 120 million people, [creating] jobs and making [citizens] productive [by] having them work has to be priority. We don't do that now. I think that is what I would like to emphasize when I get to the Senate so that [jobs] become the basic thing that we want to create. To me, employment is [our] economy. If [our] people are not working, they are not productive. If they are not productive, we don't have an economy. . .

Okay. I'll shift your attention to foreign investments. All over Nigeria, [we see] South African, Korean, Chinese and Dutch Companies. In Ogun State, as of [June] this year, there were about 21 Chinese companies that visited with intent on constructing a park in the state. What kind of corporate taxation does Ogun State have and how does that help the state and the nation as a whole?

IOB:There is a progressive taxation scheme that gives tax breaks to companies. I know the Internal Revenue Service for the state makes sure these companies all pay us. . . The state has lots of industries, mostly to the West, in an area called Ota and Agbara. They regulate these industries and make sure they pay their taxes. Of course, to attract more industry we have to be able to give some kind of tax incentives. We are very close to Lagos and Lagos has a population but it really does not have as much land. So, we really have to be able to compete with Lagos and make sure our tax breaks are much more feasible than that of Lagos so that we can get companies to move into Ogun State. In terms of the federal level, I think we need some kind of investigations concerning tax breaks [and] tax incentives for companies coming into the country.

As a follow up question, for those Nigerian citizens that think the Chinese and other foreigners are taking over our country and our oils, how do you respond to them?

IOB: [In a skeptical tone] When all the oil companies in Nigeria were American and European, people where not complaining then. The amount of Nigerians that work in the oil industry is probably less than 20%. . . in terms of the Chinese, it is a [sound] partnership. The Chinese have a lot to teach us in terms of work ethic and where they were 20, 30years ago. The Europeans and the Americans have dealt with us for the past 60 years and we have not progressed much. . . [Emphasizing with voice] The Chinese are not looking to give us handouts. They want to trade. They want to do business. They are looking at us as equals. . . There are so many companies that are set up by Nigerians living abroad in Nigeria that are doing well. If you are trying to work in the oil business, set it up. Work hard and plan and negotiate and see what you can do. In terms of manufacturing, the Chinese are saying, "we will manufacture in your country." The Europeans never gave us that. . . We will be the manufacturers and manufacture to export from [our] country. Of course there are lots of incentives for them [Chinese]. Our countries are closer to their markets. Their markets are Europe and the rest. They open those factories and they teach us how to do it. They are not going to take that knowledge and those factories away. Why are the Chinese doing this? For a long time, the Chinese have been using Africa as a dumping ground. Everything you see in our markets is cheap Chinese products. If they want to come and start making those products on our turf, then we should look into it. We can't stop their products from coming in. They are so cheap. It's the same problem America has. They [Chinese] make their cost of production so low and their efficiency so high that our own local manufacturing cannot compete.

Interesting

IOB: [continuing in a passionate voice] I think that we are focused on the West too much. Our sister countries over the last thirty years have moved on. Take the case of Indonesia. Indonesia has a lot of issues but the country is better than Nigeria in a 1001 [ways] you can think of. How did they do it? I think that is a better way to follow than trying to copy a country that has developed in the past 100years. We should take advantage of the countries that want to trade with us and have only developed in the past 30years.

Let me transition into women in politics.[From] South Africa, Zimbabwe to Liberia, we've got women in [strong] political positions. How difficult is it for women in politics in Nigeria?

IOB: [With emphasis placed in her voice] For me personally, I try as much as possible, for my own campaign efforts, to try and be seen as a woman in politics who runs a very good campaign where everyone needs to vote for her. The reason for that, [I] have never been in any situation where I say, "I am a woman that is why I deserve it." A lot of women seem to be saying that and I think it will never work. If you say, "I am the best person for this role, male [or] female because of [these reasons]" then I think you have a chance. But do not say, "because I am a woman I deserve this." [Some Nigerian] women want 30% of representation in every aspect of political life . . . Of course it is very difficult. . . I think as women, we need to first develop ourselves economically. What I hear women say in my state is, first "we don't have as much money so that is why we can't participate" and "they have meetings and all that." My answer is if you do not have economic power, then we need to get more women in positions of economic power. In every country especially where you are running for presidential campaign, it is expensive to run. You have to spend a lot of money to run. A lot of women if they do not have money they cannot raise the money. We need to find ways to economically empower women. If they are having meetings [and] you want to participate [raising her voice and emphasizing strongly], I say, "I am sorry you have to go!" It's like any job. If people are working till 1:00am because they have a deadline and you say, " . . . I am a woman, I have children, I have to go home," what do you think would happen to their resource?

[Interjecting] [Dr]. Obasanjo-Bello let's be a bit more pragmatic and realistic [with the economic empowerment point]. . . Take the journey of women in Nigeria and Compare it to . . . women and African Americans in the USA. In the USA, there have been lots of incentives from the state and federal level that permit women to have access to the political system. In Nigeria it is well known. .

IOB: [Interjecting]

[Interjecting] In Nigeria, it's well known that the men run the country.

IOB: [Speaking in a passionate voice] Yes they run the country. There are actually, especially in the federal level, more women in positions than men!

[Interjecting] So for Africa as a whole . . .

IOB:[Interrupting and speaking in a raised and passionate tone] I can't speak for the whole of Africa but in Nigeria, the men are listening and they are giving more positions to women. . . Look, if we expect that men will just open the door so we can walk in, it is not going to happen. I am a very practical person that is why I am saying this. I just stop going to the [women] meetings because people don't want to hear the truth. I know of a state [where] more than half of the local government Chairmen [is] women. How did this happen? It was encouraged by the government and pushed by him and his wife. These women have to be there and do good. But these are exceptional cases,. . . You have to push it a little.. . .[I]f you say. . .we want half of the senators to be women, it will not happen. It cannot even happen in developed countries talk less of Nigeria. .. [T]he Ministry of Finance [is] run by two women.The head of Federal Inland Revenue Service [is] a woman. Having so many strong women in position, I think it is a lot of progress in a short time. I think this next election or 2011, we cannot say we just want a woman. There has to be a credible woman that has a good chance of winning. If I campaign and say they should vote for me because I am a woman, they should drive me out of the place! I hope they do. They should vote for me because they believe in me more than the other person, and as a result they believe I will do better.

Okay…let's talk…

IOB: [continuing passionately] I don't think being a woman should be the critical issue for running for an election. I encourage a lot of women in our states to get into politics. But, they have to make sure they are good. At times people will come to me and say I want to run for this. I say you want to be a chairman why don't you be a counselor? The chances of you winning as a Chairman [are] very hard.We should really be concerned more about pushing women into the system at the local level.

[Speaking of women starting at a local level] It's interesting how you go from health commissioner to the Senate. How come?

IOB: It probably is because I am a bit over qualified for the commissioner post. . . I [am] the only commissioner in the country with a PHD. I think my education [and] my awareness allows me to move from the commissioner level to this [potential senator].

Okay. Let's transition into the final question for you. . . Your opponents do not believe you are qualified for the job . . .and are [saying]nepotism from your father [as] Presidentof the country and the. . . governor of your state, Gbenga Daniels, will get you elected. How do you respond to that?

IOB: [In a more sober tone] I cannot stop being my father's daughter. That is who I am. When I was first made commissioner.. .my father had no clue how I got the job. He still doesn't know anything about it other than me telling him that I had this job. My father has no input as to my [efforts] to be a Senator other than being my father. If I stop doing everything I wanted to do because of [what] people say, I would never do anything. It is part of the cross I have to bear. . .[W]ith the governor I am his commissioner. He encourages me but I am sure I am not the only one he encourages. I think people say that because they want to take away from my political achievement. They should take a poll to see how popular I am in my senatorial district compared to my opponents. My people would vote for me and I think it will be overwhelming. I live [and] eat with them. None of my opponents so far does that. I live in Abeokuta. I see people everyday. I have had my hands dipped in blood from carrying accident victims. I sympathize with women. I know all the market women. They come to my house, I eat with them. [H]ow many of my opponents can say that?. . .There is nothing greater than serving [my] people.

Are you looking to run for the governor seat at some point?

IOB: I don't know what I will do. Right now, my focus is on the senate. [I] don't know what the future holds. I don't have any plans to run any other election after the one for the senate. I don't preclude anything. I am not saying yes to anything. I don't think so, to be honest. Having lived almost 40 years now, one has to be careful.

Laughs

IOB: [in a chuckling tone] I remember when President Bush opened his mouth and said no new taxes years ago and the first thing he did as President was to raise taxes. We change as human beings, we grow and so you never know. What you feel today might be different three or four years later.