Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi has extended an invitation to Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Mohammed made the plea during a courtesy visit by Obi at the government house, Bauchi.
“We want you to come back to PDP. Please come back, that is where you belong. Don’t go to where there is disarray,” the governor said.
The governor, who also chairs the PDP Governors Forum, emphasised the need for opposition unity to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
Mohammed stressed that the PDP, Labour Party, and other opposition groups must come together to present a united front against the APC.
His words, “This ADC, PDP, NNPP, and the rest must come together if we must unseat the present administration that is not doing well. We have to come together
“We have to unite as the opposition, swallow our ego and interests so that we can present a common front to confront the goliath,” he said.
He criticised the current administration for lacking a concrete budget and plan, saying that “everything is about politics”
According to him, “We don’t hate the present administration, we wish they will do better. As I discussed with you, there is no budget, there is no plan, and everything is about politics from day one.”
Mohammed praised Obi’s approach to politics, highlighting his focus on constructive engagement, people-centered governance, and oversight.
The governor urged Obi to return to the PDP, stating “that’s where you belong. Don’t go anywhere else”.
In his response, Obi said he was not ruling out the possibility of working with Governor Mohammed in the future.
Obi expressed openness to working with Governor Mohammed in the future, emphasising the need for collaboration across party lines.
He called for a shift in Nigeria’s political culture, advocating for politics centered on development, competence, capacity, and compassion.
Obi also advocates for a single term of five years for the Nigerian presidency, citing the need for focused leadership without the distraction of re-election bids.
According to Obi, this system, similar to South Korea’s, would enable presidents to prioritise governance over political survival.
He argued that it would allow leaders to concentrate on their job without worrying about re-election.
He criticised the current system, stating that presidents often spend their first year settling in and the remaining years planning for re-election, instead of focusing on the nation’s development.
Obi cited examples of leaders who left lasting legacies without seeking second terms, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy.
He emphasised the need for strong political institutions, vowing to ensure that political parties function independently and effectively.
During his visit, Obi donated N15 million to two educational institutions and interacted with students, discussing governance and national development.
