Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, has made a public appeal to Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during Obi’s visit to the Bauchi Government House on Friday, Mohammed said Nigeria’s opposition parties must unite if they hope to “rescue the country” from what he described as the failings of the current APC-led administration.
“Your Excellency, my brother, we are delighted by the new lease of life you bring to Nigerian politics,” Mohammed told Obi in the presence of journalists, PDP stakeholders and members of Obi’s ‘Obidient Movement’.
He praised Obi’s “people-focused governance” style, citing his legacy in healthcare and education during his time as Anambra governor. “We know your passion and what you did in Anambra. This is the kind of insight and roadmap we need for Nigeria,” he said.
Mohammed stressed that leadership should be about empathy and solutions — not handouts during festive seasons. He warned that opposition disunity only strengthens the ruling party.
“Nigerian politics cannot be done with ego, differences or personal interests,” he declared. “The PDP, ADC, SDP, LP — we must come together. I told you last night, and I’m saying it again publicly: we want you to come back to PDP. That’s where you belong.”
Obi, who had earlier donated ₦15 million to two Bauchi schools — ₦10 million to Malkiya College of Nursing Sciences and ₦5 million to Intisharu Taufizul Quranic Islamic School in Yelwa — welcomed the call for collaboration.
“I came to Bauchi to visit two schools of nursing, but beyond that, I came to meet my brother so we can talk about the problems of the people and how to solve them together,” Obi said.
He urged all opposition figures to work as one, insisting politics must shift from self-interest to competence, capacity and compassion. “It’s no longer about us — it’s about our country,” he added.
During his school visits, Obi highlighted nurses’ central role in healthcare, noting he supports 60–70 nursing schools annually. At the Quranic school, he emphasised blending Islamic education with core subjects like English and Mathematics to give children “a balanced foundation for success.”
In a separate session with Students’ Union Government leaders, Obi reaffirmed his promise to serve only one four-year term if elected president. “Longevity in office is not a mark of success; purposeful, accountable service — however brief — defines true statesmanship,” he said.
