In a recent video published by Idoma Television, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election and former governor of Anambra State, clarified the purpose of his visit to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Addressing the audience, Obi acknowledged the presence of the governor and other dignitaries, respectfully adhering to formal protocols. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to speak, stating, “With the permission of His Excellency, the Governor of Bauchi State, my dear brother, and Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor, let me stand on all existing protocols.”
Obi noted that he was accompanied by a former Minister of Finance and Tanko, the News Coordinator of The Obedience Movement, during the visit. He also addressed the press, acknowledging their curiosity about the meeting, saying, “I’m sure the press wasn’t expecting this. I’m sure you are wondering why this meeting?”
Explaining the reason for his visit, Obi described it as a consultation with Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. He emphasized that, given Nigeria’s current challenges, it was essential to engage with key political figures to discuss the nation’s future.
“Being a critical person in Nigerian politics today, and considering what our country is going through, I felt it necessary to come and discuss the future of our dear country with him,” Obi stated.
The discussions reportedly centered on pressing national issues, including poverty, insecurity, and the welfare of young people. Obi highlighted the need for substantial investment in education and healthcare to address the root causes of youth-related challenges such as drug abuse and other social vices.
Expressing concern over the nation’s political discourse, Obi criticized how trivial matters have overshadowed essential issues. “What we are discussing now in the political space are mundane things — whether it’s budget padding or sexual harassment — while our people are hungry,” he remarked. “We need to discuss hunger, we need to discuss poverty, we need to discuss education, we need to discuss health.”
He went further to criticize the political landscape for turning governance into a spectacle, comparing it to entertainment. “What concerns the people should be the priority of the political class. We are not in Nollywood. There are people whose job is to enjoy entertainment, but those of us in politics have now turned to entertainment,” Obi stated.
He concluded by urging politicians to redirect their focus toward addressing real issues affecting Nigerians, rather than engaging in trivial controversies. “Every morning, we come up with one story or another that has nothing to do with the real issues affecting the people. It’s time we focus our attention on genuine discussions about the people’s welfare,” Obi emphasized.
