Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting with a presidential aspirant in the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.
Also with them at the meeting were former governors Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Okwesilieze Nwodo (Enugu), Achike Udenwa (Anambra), Senator Ben Obi, Dr Oseloka Obaze and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu.
Obi, speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, said the delegation visited Makinde to consult with him on the coalition for the 2027 general elections and how to build a better Nigeria.
He said, “We have come to respectfully consult my dear brother, His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, on the coalition for the 2027 election and the overall well-being of Nigeria, because it is about Nigeria, it’s about how to build a better Nigeria.
“It’s about how we can build a better Nigeria, a Nigeria where we would all be proud to say, ‘this is our country.’ A Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody.”
While fielding questions from newsmen on what Nigerians should look forward to ahead of 2027, Obi added, “They should expect a better Nigeria, a more united, secure and progressive Nigeria where we are going to move the country from a consumption economy to a production economy and get our people employed.”
He reiterated his vision of a more united, secure and productive Nigeria.
Speaking with correspondents after spending almost two hours in a private meeting with Makinde, Obi described the engagement as part of ongoing consultations focused on Nigeria’s future.
He said his visit formed part of wider discussions with key stakeholders on national issues and the need for collaboration across political lines.
“We have come to consult and to continue discussions with His Excellency, the Governor, on issues that concern the future of our country.
“My dear brother, the Governor, and I shared a common belief that Nigeria must work for everyone, and that is the focus of our engagement.
“What we are doing is not about politics for its own sake; it is about Nigeria and how we can build a better nation for all our people. We are looking at a Nigeria that is united, secure and progressive, where every citizen has a fair chance to succeed based on merit and hard work, not connections.
“How do we build a better language? I’m not giving you the beat. Thank you. How can we build a better Nigeria, and a Nigeria where we will all be proud to save that country?” he said.
He maintained that the ultimate objective remained the progress and unity of the country.
Obi’s visit followed his engagement with former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, further signalling a series of high-level discussions linked to broader political realignments.
The reports that the visit came barely 72 hours after a high-level national summit of opposition political parties held in Ibadan, which brought together prominent political actors and stakeholders from across Nigeria.
Makinde hosted the one-day national summit of opposition political parties, organised to discuss strategies to dislodge the ruling APC from power in 2027.
National party chairmen who were signatories to the summit included the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark; Hakeem Baba-Ahmed of the People’s Redemption Party; Ajuji Ahmed of the New Nigeria People’s Party; Cleopas Moses of the National Democratic Coalition; Nenadi Usman of the Labour Party; Uche Nnadi of the Action Peoples Party; and Mgbudem Maxwell of Accord.
Others included Yusuf Dantalle of the Allied Peoples Movement; Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance; Samuel Memeh; Abdulrahman Abubakar of the Young Progressives Party; Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party; and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
Other dignitaries at the summit included former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Makinde, Obi; former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke; and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Others included former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana; political economist, Pat Utomi; and Kashim Ibrahim, among others.