March 13, (THEWILL) – Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has declared the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as Nigeria’s opposition leader, signaling a potential alliance to challenge the ruling government.
Mohammed, who doubles as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, made this declaration on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with Obi at the Ramat House in Bauchi.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the governor expressed readiness to work with Obi in forming a formidable opposition, aimed at rescuing the country from what he described as “mediocres parading themselves as leaders.”
Mohammed stated, “Peter Obi is the leader of the opposition in Nigeria because of his position and pedigree. I want to clear the doubts of those trying to preempt what we are doing.
“As a person, I’m ready to work with Peter Obi to close ranks, bring good governance to the country, and provide a vibrant opposition with knowledge, vision, and sincerity. The time has come for us to rescue and recover our country.”
The governor further hinted at broad-based support for their collaboration, adding that other PDP governors share the vision.
He said, “I believe our coming together is a strong message, and it will resonate. Many of my colleagues, the PDP governors, are behind this movement because it is about the future of Nigeria. We appreciate Obi’s visit, and you will see more engagements between him, PDP governors, and the party as we move forward.”
On his part, Obi explained that his visit was centered on national development and consultations with key political figures, including Mohammed, as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“This meeting is about Nigeria’s future. We need to discuss the country’s challenges, especially those affecting the North,” Obi said.
He lamented the rising poverty levels in Nigeria, stressing that economic hardship fuels insecurity.
“When people talk about criminality, I tell them that the real issue is poverty. Until we solve poverty, we cannot address insecurity. When people don’t know where their next meal will come from, no one can predict their actions,” he said.
Obi also identified agriculture as a key sector that could drive economic growth and alleviate poverty, pointing out that vast uncultivated lands remain untapped across Nigeria.
“We have enormous agricultural potential that can turn our economy around. I just returned from Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, where they have maximized agriculture for economic growth. We can do the same,” he added.
He further criticised the political discourse in Nigeria, saying, “Instead of focusing on critical issues like poverty, education, and healthcare, our political discussions are centered around trivial matters. We need to shift attention to the real issues affecting Nigerians.”
The meeting between the two politicians has sparked fresh political discussions, with speculations that Mohammed could be considering a realignment with Obi’s movement ahead of future elections.
