- Safiu Kehinde
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has talked down plot to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the Peoples Democratic Congress (PDP) as the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, paid a visit to the governor.
Obi had on Thursday led some ADC stakeholders to the Bauchi Government House.
The visitors held a closed-door meeting with Bala shortly after their arrival.
While fielding questions from newsmen after the meeting, the Bauchi governor was asked about the motive behind the visit with a journalist raising speculation of possible defection to ADC.
Bala however talked down the speculation as he maintained that the ADC stakeholders had only visited to seek political synergy and alignment.
He described the opposition party leaders, as well as those in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including himself, as freelancers considering the ongoing leadership tussle and litigation battles rocking both parties.
“I think this is why we said we have to be strategic, Neither ADC nor PDP is left alone. We are in a freelance now like you have freelance reporters.
“He himself his party is in a limbo. We are looking out to the judiciary.” Bala said.
The Bauchi governor however affirmed that both parties are in opposition with their meeting largely centred on alignment and realignment.
“Certainly, we are all in the opposition and that is why I said it is a political discussion, and I will not let you know what we have discussed in terms of Is and Ts that we have crossed.
“But certainly, it is about alignment and realignment and cooperation so that we can have platform.
“Maybe at the end of the day, I will say the mainstream party is creating unity for us. It is helping us to win election.” He said.
Meanwhile, Bala lauded Obi, describing him as torch who seeks to unify the country.
“Mr. Peter Obi is a torchlight for us that we truly want to hold on to because he speaks about unifying the country and building it.
“Why they are here is not to ask us for anything other than partnership, cooperation, synergy, rekindle and rebuild the country to recreate the balance of power that our forefathers have created before which has been abandoned.
“It is just about building synergy and cooperation for the unity, progress and development of this country.” He added.
On his part, Obi disclosed that the essence of his visitation to Bala is to seek his support and cooperation.
The former Anambra governor harped on the need to foster unity in the country.
He claimed that Nigeria is heading in the wrong direction on the current administration.
“My purpose of coming here is to solicit for the support and cooperation of His Excellency and stakeholders in Bauchi, alongside the North-East, in our quest to unite this country.
“We need a united country to build a better 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. That is why we are here to seek his support and support of the stakeholders of Bauchi in building a new Nigeria.
“Building a new Nigeria where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.” He said.