Bala Mohammed declares Obi Nigeria’s opposition leader

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has declared Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, as the leader of Nigeria’s opposition, while also hinting at a potential alliance ahead of the 2027 elections. Mohammed, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, made the declaration on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with Obi in […]

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has declared Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, as the leader of Nigeria’s opposition, while also hinting at a potential alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mohammed, who chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, made the declaration on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with Obi in Bauchi. He expressed readiness to collaborate with Obi to rescue Nigeria from “mediocres parading themselves as leaders.”

“Whether we like it or not, Peter Obi is the leader of the opposition in Nigeria now because of his position and pedigree. I’m ready to work with him to bring good governance to the country,” Mohammed said.

He emphasised the need for a united opposition, stating, “We will come together, close ranks and give vibrant opposition with knowledge, vision and timelines. Our goal is to rescue and recover Nigeria from these mediocres.”

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When asked if the collaboration meant inviting Obi back to the PDP, Mohammed dismissed the question as “just semantics.”

“Coming together is coming together. It’s not about party, region, or religion. It’s about service to the people. We are statesmen, Nigerians and politicians who believe in one thing: serving the people. That’s the meaning of coming together,” he said.

Mohammed added, “The collaboration transcends party, religion, or personal interest. The government in power relishes being undertakers in different parties. We will use knowledge, tact, and strategy to transcend all these barriers. We will go beyond their estimation and come up with a framework to actualize our collective aspirations of providing good governance to Nigerians.”

He also criticized those attempting to undermine democracy, saying, “We will counter those who think they can scuttle democracy through coercion or judicial interference. This is about building a better Nigeria, and we are committed to that.”

 

Obi: Collaboration focused on poverty, education and development

On his part, Obi said his visit was part of ongoing consultations to discuss Nigeria’s future. He described Mohammed as a critical stakeholder in Nigerian politics and emphasised the need to address poverty, education and development.

“The North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country. Poverty is a major issue, and until we solve it, we cannot talk about reducing criminality,” Obi said.

He highlighted the potential of agriculture to transform Nigeria’s economy, stating, “Nigeria can make more money from agriculture than from oil. I’ve seen vast uncultivated lands across the country. We need to invest in education, health, and critical infrastructure to pull people out of poverty.”

Obi criticised the current political discourse, which he said focuses on trivial issues rather than the needs of the people.

“We are not in Nollywood. Unfortunately, politics has become entertainment. Every morning, we hear stories about budget padding or sexual harassment, but we’re not discussing hunger, poverty or education. These are the issues that matter,” he said.

Asked how this collaboration would work out with both of them in different political parties, Obi described the collaboration as an ongoing process, adding, “You don’t consummate a marriage in one day. This is about building a better Nigeria for our children.”

 

APC dismisses claims, says gov’t already rescuing Nigeria

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the opposition leaders’ claims, insisting that the Bola Tinubu-led administration is already addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

APC National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, told Daily Trust that the term “mediocrity” does not apply to the APC.

“They have not mentioned names, so we can’t assume they’re referring to us. They may be talking about the disunity within their own ranks,” he said.

Ibrahim highlighted the APC’s recent National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, which he described as rancor-free.

“The NEC passed a vote of confidence on the party’s leadership and the president. Nigeria is heading for prosperity under our watch,” he said.

He urged the opposition to learn from the APC’s approach, saying, “If they want to imply that we are mediocre, they should look at how we are running the country. We are gradually getting out of the woods and into prosperity.”

The meeting between Obi and Mohammed has sparked speculation about a potential alliance between the duo ahead of 2027, outside the structure of their political parties’ elections, especially as both leaders emphasized the need to prioritise governance over partisan politics.