The presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has explained why yesterday, he paid what close associates described as “private visits” to prominent leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Those visited included former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido.
But Obi’s visit to these leaders has raised questions about future plans of Nigeria’s main opposition parties, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku was the first to announce Obi’s visit on his X (Twitter) handle. He informed his followers that the former LP standard bearer paid him a visit. Atiku noted that he was always delighted to receive him.
Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor was Atiku’s running mate on the PDP presidential ticket during the 2019 general elections.
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But details of yesterday’s meetings are yet to be made public.
Newsmen however gathered that discussions about the need for the opposition to form a common front, ahead of 2027, featured prominently.
Atiku had, at various fora, harped on the need for the opposition to unite. According to him, it remains the only way to rid the nation of the current hardship imposed by the President Ahmed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration.
On the to visit, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said: “The meeting was held behind closed doors. But we haven’t been briefed.”
However, Obi’s media aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, explained the visits in a statement. This came barely an hour after Obi’s separate meetings.
He explained that “the state of the nation and the plight of the poor” inspired the visits.
Tanko said: “Mr. Peter Obi has continued to live up to his expressed commitment to the peace and progress of the nation.”
Aso, he added: “His abiding devotion is to the emergence of a Nigeria that works for all its peoples and where the people are quickly pulled out of poverty.”
