Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has expressed his willingness to collaborate with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria. After a closed-door meeting with Obi at the Government House in Bauchi, Mohammed praised Obi’s political style, statesmanship, and deep knowledge of governance and the economy.
Mohammed acknowledged Obi’s clear vision for bringing good governance and uniting the country, emphasizing that Obi has become the face of opposition politics in Nigeria. He highlighted their shared commitment to working together, stating that their collaboration would provide a strong, vibrant, and knowledgeable opposition to challenge the ruling party.
The meeting between the two leaders, which was not their first, covered a wide range of national issues, including political challenges in Rivers State and the state of opposition politics in Nigeria. Mohammed reiterated that the time had come for opposition figures to unite and present a focused and sincere message to the Nigerian people.
For his part, Obi explained that his visit to Mohammed was part of his broader consultations to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges, particularly those affecting the northern region. He emphasized the importance of tackling poverty as a key issue in addressing insecurity, noting that poverty must be addressed before the country can resolve criminality.
Obi also highlighted the need to focus on education and agriculture to reduce poverty and crime in Nigeria, criticizing the political discourse for focusing on issues like budget padding and sexual harassment while millions of Nigerians face hunger and deprivation.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to continuing their discussions and exploring ways to work together for the future of Nigeria.