Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi says his closed-door meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday was productive, noting that discussions centred on Nigeria’s future.
Obi, who visited Jonathan alongside a delegation of prominent South-East leaders, said the meeting was part of his ongoing consultations with key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sharing details after the visit, Obi said, “Our discussions were frank, thoughtful, and anchored on the urgent need to reposition Nigeria on the path of unity, security, stability, productivity, and inclusive governance.”
He added that the country’s current challenges require leaders across regions to collaborate in the national interest.
“At a time when our nation continues to grapple with economic hardship, rising insecurity, and deepening social divisions, it has become imperative that leaders across regions come together to reflect, consult, and act in the overall interest of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Obi stressed that Nigeria needs leadership driven by competence and service rather than personal ambition.
“Nigeria today requires leadership that is guided not by personal ambition, but by competence, character, capacity, and compassion. Governance is not about sharing what is left, but about creating what is needed,” he said.
He also called for a shift in the country’s economic approach, urging a move from consumption to production by maximising available human and natural resources.
Looking ahead, Obi described the 2027 elections as a critical turning point.
“The 2027 elections must not just be seen as another political exercise, but as a critical opportunity to reset the trajectory of our country.
“It must be about the Nigerian child who deserves quality education, the struggling entrepreneur who needs a conducive environment to thrive, and the millions of citizens who simply desire a secure and functional nation,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Igbo elders, senators from the South-East under the African Democratic Congress, and other political allies.