Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, on Thursday hosted Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, and a delegation of south-east leaders at the state government house.
The visit, described as a courtesy call, comes amid a political realignment among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Following the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Bauchi governor has in recent weeks hosted key figures from other political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On March 31, Mohammed received leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), at the government house in Bauchi.
The governor had said the ADC appeared to be an acceptable platform for him, while noting that discussions with the party were still ongoing.
However, the following day, he hosted Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman, and Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, as speculation grew over his possible exit from the PDP.
In continuation of the engagements, the governor held a closed-door meeting with Obi on Thursday, describing the visit as symbolic and significant.
“What they are here for is not to ask us for anything other than partnership, cooperation, and synergy, to rekindle and rebuild the country, to recreate the balance of power that our forefathers created before, which has been abandoned,” Mohammed said.
He noted that Obi has consistently engaged with institutions in Bauchi, adding that the visit underscored a commitment to dialogue and cooperation.
“We believe he has become a recurring visitor; he has always visited here, our institutions, our health facilities, and our schools,” he said.
“But this time he is coming with a lot of olive branches that he wants to extend to us. We have given him all the assurances and our respect, as well as the leaders he has brought, because all of them are known.”
Mohammed added that the discussions were broadly political, centred on alignment and future collaboration among political actors.
“I am a freelance now. Like, you know, we are freelance reporters, and he himself, his party, is in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary,” he said.
He further described the engagement as part of efforts to build consensus and a platform for national progress, particularly among opposition figures.
Obi said the delegation was committed to building a united Nigeria and reversing the country’s current challenges through partnership and reform.
“We want to have a united country to build a future for our children. The country cannot continue the way it is today. We are headed in the wrong direction, and we need to reverse that for everybody,” Obi said.
