Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has declared his readiness to work with Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Obi at the Bauchi Government House on Thursday, Mohammed described Obi as a respected statesman with a clear vision for governance, praising his economic acumen and leadership style.
“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,” Mohammed said.
The governor revealed that their discussions covered critical national issues, including political tensions in Rivers State and the state of opposition politics. He emphasized the need for unity among opposition figures to offer a credible alternative to the ruling party.
Obi, on his part, stated that his visit was part of broader consultations to address Nigeria’s challenges, particularly those affecting the North. He stressed that poverty alleviation was key to tackling insecurity and called for increased investment in education and agriculture.
“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,” Obi asserted.
The discussions between Mohammed and Obi signal a possible realignment of opposition forces ahead of future elections, with both leaders promising continued engagements to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.