…unveils people-centred agenda

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A United States–based physician and humanitarian, Dr. Bolaji Marie Odusina, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, unveiling a comprehensive, people-oriented development blueprint focused on healthcare, economic empowerment and grassroots inclusion.

Odusina made the declaration at the Iwe Iroyin Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, describing her aspiration as the beginning of “a new chapter of truth, accountability and people-driven leadership” in the state.

Addressing a cross-section of stakeholders, including journalists, traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups, the paediatrician said her decision to join the race was borne out of years of firsthand encounters with hardship in communities across Ogun State, rather than mere political ambition.

“I stand before you not as a politician seeking power, but as a daughter of this soil who has heard the quiet cries of our people,” she said.

Odusina, a board-certified paediatrician with over three decades of professional experience in Nigeria and the United States, is the founder of Doctors Without Prejudice, a platform through which she has conducted free medical outreaches in underserved communities.

She recounted her experiences in Odogbolu, Abeokuta North and Ijebu North Local Government Areas, including attending to a critically ill child whose mother reportedly trekked for hours due to the absence of functional healthcare facilities.

“These are not just statistics to me; they are real people whose pain I have witnessed firsthand,” she stated.

Quoting data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, she decried persistent gaps in maternal and child healthcare, noting that skilled birth attendance remains low, while preventable deaths continue to plague rural communities due to weak primary healthcare systems.

The governorship hopeful also unveiled her policy framework, tagged “DEEDOC 2027 Health and Advancement,” built on a 12-point agenda targeting critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture and youth empowerment.

Central to the plan, according to her, is the establishment of fully equipped primary healthcare centres in every ward, supported by solar-powered facilities and mobile clinics to serve hard-to-reach communities.

She further proposed the development of agro-processing hubs in key industrial corridors, including Agbara and Sango-Ota, as well as the creation of skills acquisition centres across the 20 local government areas to address unemployment.

On governance, Odusina pledged transparency and accountability through quarterly financial disclosures and regular town hall meetings.

“We will bring governance closer to the people and ensure that public resources are managed with integrity,” she said.

Highlighting the plight of residents in border communities, particularly in Ogun West, she lamented their dependence on neighbouring countries for basic healthcare services, attributing the situation to poor local infrastructure.

She also outlined plans to revitalize agriculture through the provision of irrigation systems, subsidized farm inputs and improved access to markets.

Describing agriculture as a “sleeping giant,” she said it holds immense potential to transform rural economies in areas such as Ilaro and Ipokia.

Odusina, however, urged eligible voters within and outside the state to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), emphasising the importance of active participation in the electoral process.

“Your vote is your power. Together, we can build an Ogun State where no community is left behind,” she said.