Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has expressed his readiness to join forces with Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, to bolster opposition politics in Nigeria.
The declaration came today, following a closed-door meeting between the two leaders at the Government House in Bauchi.
Mohammed praised Obi’s political approach, describing him as a statesman with a deep understanding of governance and economics, signaling a potential alliance aimed at challenging the ruling party.
During the meeting, Mohammed expressed admiration for Obi’s leadership style, highlighting his versatility, mastery of statistics, and clear vision for uniting Nigeria through good governance.
“We have a lot of respect and admiration for him because of his style of politics, his statesmanship, his versatile nature, and his deep knowledge of the economy and governance,” the governor stated.
He emphasized that Obi has emerged as the leading figure in opposition politics, saying, “Whether we like it or not, he is now the face of opposition politics in Nigeria.” This was not their first encounter, as Mohammed revealed prior discussions with Obi in Abuja, underscoring a growing rapport between the two.
The Bauchi governor detailed that their talks covered pressing national issues, including the political turbulence in Rivers State and the broader state of opposition in Nigeria.
Mohammed expressed his commitment to working with Obi “I want to say clearly that I am ready to work with Peter Obi. We must come together to bring good governance, offer a vibrant opposition with vision and strategy, and rescue this country from mediocrities parading themselves as leaders.”
Peter Obi, speaking earlier during the visit, described his trip to Bauchi as part of a broader consultation effort with key political stakeholders to confront Nigeria’s mounting crises. “Nigerians may wonder why I am here, but I have come to consult with him because he is a critical stakeholder in Nigerian politics,” Obi explained.
He emphasized the pivotal role of the North in steering the nation toward stability, stating, “We must talk about the issues affecting the North because the North is a critical component in getting Nigeria on the right path.”
Obi identified poverty as the root cause of Nigeria’s insecurity, particularly in the North, arguing that criminality cannot be curbed without addressing economic deprivation. “When people talk about criminality in Nigeria, especially in the North, I tell them the real issue is poverty.
Until we address poverty, we cannot solve criminality,” he said. He advocated for heavy investments in education and agriculture as sustainable solutions to lift millions out of poverty and reduce crime, criticizing the current political focus on trivial matters like budget padding and sexual harassment amid widespread hunger.
“But look at what dominates our political discourse today, budget padding, and sexual harassment, while Nigerians are hungry. We need to discuss hunger, poverty, education, and healthcare,” Peter Obi lamented.
He concluded by noting that his discussions with Mohammed marked the beginning of an ongoing dialogue aimed at shaping Nigeria’s future, hinting at further engagements with northern leaders and beyond.
