By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday visited Governor Bala Mohammed at Ramat Presidential House Bauchi. The meeting under closed door lasted for more than an hour.
Shortly after the meeting Mr. Peter Obi, while addressing journalists disclosed that the visit was driven by need to build bridges across regions and chart a new course for Nigeria’s future. Saying that collective action is necessary to address the Country’s current socio – economic challenges.
He informed that the delegation engaged leaders from the Northeast to foster cooperation aimed at creating a more inclusive and effective political direction for the country.
Obi, said “national unity is important to tackle Nigeria’s unbearable high cost of living, insecurity and unemployment.stressing that the crises do not discriminate along party lines”.
According to him, “Nobody goes to the market and says he or she is from this party or that party. Nobody buys bread cheaper because of religion or tribe”.
“When kidnappers stop people on the road, they don’t ask for your political party. All they want is ransom. When farmers are chased from their farms, no party is safe,” he added.
Obi argued that agriculture holds greater potential than oil for national revenue, adding that the North’s greatest asset is land but uncultivated.
“We can make more money from agriculture than we make from oil. The North can drive this country. We want to invest in the North and ensure farmers return to their farms safely. The invitation is to build a better Nigeria where Nigerians are secured,” he said.
Responding, Governor Bala Mohammed, described Obi’s visit as a call for unity and rebuilding.
“He came with a torchlight for us, a torchlight about unifying the country, rebuilding the country, building bridges and creating a new tomorrow,” Bala said.
He said Obi has frequently visited Bauchi’s health and educational institutions, but said this Thursday’s visit was distinct.
“This time he is coming with an olive branch that he wants to extend to us. What they want is partnership, cooperation and synergy to recreate the balance of power that our forefathers created before, which has been abandoned,” he explained.
Bala Mohammed, assured Obi of the state’s respect and support. “Hence the idea is about building synergy and cooperation for the unity, progress and development of this country.”
He noted that the discussions went beyond regional interest, touching on broader national concerns and the possibility of deeper opposition alignment, while emphasizing that consultations are still ongoing.
