AHEAD of the 2027 general polls, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has declared support for Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Mohammed who received the 2023 LP presidential candidate at the Government House on Thursday said he was ready to work with Obi.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted for more than one hour at the Ramat House in Bauchi, was followed by a press briefing.
However, neither parties clarified whether the meeting would lead to a potential political alliance.
“As a person, I am ready to work with Peter Obi and make sure we come together, close ranks, and bring good governance to the country. We will provide a vibrant opposition with knowledge, timeliness, and vision in a way that will help rescue and recover our country from the mediocre who are parading themselves as leaders. The time has come when we must step out and do things with fidelity, sincerity, and focus,” Mohammed said.
“Our coming together is a message, and I believe the message will resonate because all our colleagues, the Governors, are behind this kind of journey. It is a transcendental one, and I want to say that we are very grateful to Governor Obi for coming here.
“We will take it up and move it forward in a way that going forward, you will see more of these joint efforts between us, Governor Obi, the PDP Governors, and the PDP as a party.”
The governor said they discussed several issues, particularly those affecting various states, including challenges in Rivers State. He expressed appreciation to Obi for showing concern.
He said, “It’s a delight to work with him and to listen to him, his deep knowledge, and his statistics. We in the PDP have always admired him and shown interest.
“Behind the scenes, I have been meeting with him. This is not the first time we’ve met. In fact, I met him in Abuja, and I was about to meet him again, but out of his usual humility, he decided to come here.”
Obi explained that the purpose of his visit was to engage in discussions on national issues, consult with the governor, and explore ways to collectively address the country’s challenges. He also emphasized that this dialogue would be an ongoing collaboration.
“I came here basically to discuss our dear country, to consult, being the chair of the PDP Governors Forum and a critical figure in Nigeria’s politics today,” Obi said.
“Given what our country is going through, I felt it was necessary to come and discuss the future of our dear country with him. So, it’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue as we talk about the future of this country.”
He said that Nigerians are aware of the current state of affairs in the country and that these issues must be discussed, particularly the challenges facing northern Nigeria.
“The North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country,” Obi said.
He emphasized that issues of poverty must be addressed and that the North must invest significantly in agriculture. He also urged that the country should focus on critical issues of national importance, rather than engaging in trivial matters.