A United States–based physician and humanitarian, Dr. Bolaji Marie Odusina, has formally declared her intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, unveiling a people-centred development blueprint anchored on healthcare, economic empowerment and grassroots inclusion.
Odusina made the declaration on Tuesday at Iwe Iroyin, widely regarded as Nigeria’s first newspaper house, choosing the historic venue to symbolise what she described as “a new chapter of truth, accountability and people-driven leadership” in the state.
Addressing journalists, traditional rulers, community leaders and youth groups, the paediatrician said her entry into the race was not driven by political ambition but by years of direct encounters with hardship across Ogun communities.
“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.
From medical missions to political mission
Odusina, a board-certified paediatrician with over three decades of practice in Nigeria and the United States, is the founder of Doctors Without Prejudice, through which she has led free medical outreaches in underserved communities across Ogun State.
She recounted experiences from her outreach missions in Odogbolu, Abeokuta North and Ijebu-Igbo, including treating a critically ill child whose mother had walked several 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 said.
Citing data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Odusina highlighted gaps in maternal and child health, noting that skilled birth attendance remains low, while rural communities continue to suffer preventable deaths due to weak primary healthcare systems.
A “DEEDOC 2027” vision
The governorship hopeful unveiled her policy framework tagged “DEEDOC 2027 — Ilera Ati Itesiwaju” (Health and Advancement), built around a 12-point agenda targeting critical sectors including healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and youth empowerment.
Central to her plan is the establishment of fully equipped primary health centres in every ward, backed by solar power and mobile clinics to reach remote areas.
She also proposed agro-processing hubs in industrial corridors such as Agbara and Sango-Ota, alongside skills acquisition centres across all 20 local government areas to tackle unemployment.
On governance, Odusina pledged transparency through quarterly financial disclosures and regular town hall engagements, promising to bring government closer to the people.
Border communities, rural economy in focus
Drawing attention to border communities, particularly in Ogun West, she lamented the reliance of residents on neighbouring countries for basic healthcare services due to inadequate local infrastructure.
She also outlined plans to support farmers with irrigation systems, subsidised inputs and improved market access, describing agriculture as a “sleeping giant” capable of transforming rural economies in areas like Ilaro and Ipokia.
Call for civic participation
Odusina urged eligible voters across the state and in the diaspora to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that electoral participation would be key to achieving the envisioned change.
“Your vote is your power. Together, we can build an Ogun State where no community is left behind,” she said.
She added that details of her political platform would be unveiled in the coming days.
A symbolic declaration
By choosing Iwe Iroyin for her declaration, observers say Odusina appears to be positioning her campaign around reform, accountability and a return to people-focused governance.
Her entry adds a new dynamic to the Ogun 2027 political landscape, particularly as a technocrat with strong roots in healthcare and social intervention, a contrast to the state’s traditional political actors.
Whether her grassroots narrative and health-driven agenda will translate into political momentum remains to be seen, but her message was clear: governance, she insists, must begin with listening to the people.
