FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, met behind closed doors in Abuja on Thursday to discuss pressing national issues.
News Point Nigeria reports that Obi, who made the visit public via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, described Jonathan as an “elder brother, a statesman, and a leader.”
“Today in Abuja, I met with my very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan. We had a fruitful closed-door meeting and discussed the state of our dear nation,” Obi wrote.
Details of Meeting Kept Under Wraps
Although neither Obi nor Jonathan disclosed specific details of their conversation, political observers believe the meeting comes at a significant time when conversations about Nigeria’s governance, economy, and security challenges are intensifying under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sources close to both leaders say the discussion likely touched on pressing national issues, including economic reforms, electoral integrity, and the growing calls for inclusive governance.
Goodluck Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has become a respected voice on peacebuilding and democracy promotion across Africa. In recent years, he has been actively involved in international mediation efforts, often serving as a special envoy in conflict resolution and electoral observation missions.
His Abuja residence has also become a hub for quiet political diplomacy, where key political actors meet to deliberate on Nigeria’s future.
Peter Obi, who came third in the fiercely contested 2023 presidential election behind President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been on a series of stakeholder engagements since the election concluded.
The Abuja parley has already stirred speculation about possible alliances and realignments ahead of future elections.
For now, neither Obi nor Jonathan has given any hint about political collaborations, but the timing of the meeting has drawn attention in political circles.
