The interview with Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello on Channels Television’s Morning Brief today came across as more of a self-promotional platform than a rigorous journalistic engagement.
For roughly 20 minutes, she focused heavily on her personal credentials, her recent defection from the PDP to the APC, and her bold declaration: “I am the formidable one, and I will win” the 2027 Ogun State governorship race.
Yet, the interviewers largely allowed this unchallenged, sidestepping several critical questions that could have tested the substance behind her ambition. This missed opportunity highlights a broader issue with Nigerian media: too often, high-profile interviews devolve into unchallenged monologues rather than accountability sessions.
Here are some of the key unanswered (or unasked) questions that would have made the discussion far more informative:
Her father’s stance on her APC move — Given former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s well-documented history as a two-term PDP leader and his vocal opposition to Bola Tinubu (now APC President), how does Iyabo reconcile defecting to the President’s party? In the interview, she claimed her father would vote for her personally, but the deeper political rift between Obasanjo and Tinubu/APC was barely probed.
Her pathway to the ticket — With less than two years until the 2027 primaries (and already formidable APC contenders in the race), what realistic strategy does she have to secure the nomination? Joining the party recently and declaring so soon raises questions about groundwork, alliances, and overcoming entrenched interests.
Family campaigning dynamics — Will her father, a staunch PDP figure who has criticized the APC harshly, actively campaign for her under the APC banner? She downplayed needing his support (saying she’s nearly 60 and independent), but the optics of a former President holding the APC flag for his daughter would be politically explosive—and worth exploring.
Zoning and equity in Ogun State — How does she justify pushing for the governorship to return to Ogun Central (Egba land), when Ogun West (Yewa/Awori) has never produced a governor since the state’s creation in 1976? Zoning may not be constitutional, but the agitation for power shift to Ogun West is strong and has been a recurring demand. Dismissing it risks alienating a significant bloc.
These gaps left viewers with more hype than scrutiny. Nigerian media houses, especially respected ones like Channels TV, should prioritize tougher, issue-based questioning—especially for aspirants leveraging name recognition or family legacy. Soft interviews risk amplifying personal narratives while sidelining public interest concerns like zoning fairness, party loyalty shifts, and genuine preparedness to govern.
Until interviewers press harder on these substantive points, such appearances will continue feeling like arranged platforms rather than genuine public service journalism. Our democracy deserves better scrutiny from the fourth estate.
