Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has described himself as a “freelance politician” following a meeting with Peter Obi.
Mohammed made the comment on Thursday while receiving the African Democratic Congress chieftain, Peter Obi, alongside stakeholders from the South-East in Bauchi.
He said the discussion focused on national unity and political cooperation, stressing that it was not driven by party affiliation.
“Neither PDP nor ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary.
“Certainly, we are all in the opposition, and that is why I say this is a political discussion. We will not disclose everything we have discussed in terms of the ‘I’s and ‘t’s we have crossed,” he said.
He added that the ongoing engagements among political actors were part of broader consultations ahead of future elections and possible realignments.
“We cannot operate without a platform. At the end of the day, the current political situation may even help unify us and strengthen our chances of winning elections,” he added.
Mohammed described Obi’s visit as symbolic, noting that it reflected efforts to build bridges across regions.
“He is talking about unifying the country, building bridges, and creating a new tomorrow for Nigeria. This is what we stand for as a state and as a people. We feel highly honoured by this visit,” he said.
Obi, in his remarks, said the visit was aimed at promoting unity and cooperation across the country.
“My purpose is to solicit support and cooperation among stakeholders, particularly from the Bauchi state, in our quest to unite this country,” Obi said.
He dismissed speculation about political defections, stating that the engagement was not about party switching.
“We are not inviting each other into political parties; we are inviting ourselves to build a better Nigeria,” he added.
The meeting was attended by several South-East stakeholders, including former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, and Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh.
