• Jigawa delegate debunks report of disruption at Atiku-Obi coalition meeting
• ADC chairman hints on conclusion of coalition talks
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has declared that Northern Nigeria holds the key to solving the nation’s deepest challenges, calling on leaders from the region to take bold steps toward driving national transformation.
Contrary to media reports suggesting that the high-level coalition meeting at the Abuja Continental Hotel ended in chaos, a delegate from Jigawa State, Auwalu Garba, has stated that the gathering remained largely orderly.
Meanwhile, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralphs Okey Nwosu, said discussions on the proposed opposition coalition would be concluded within the next one or two weeks.
Speaking at a strategic meeting with Northern political stakeholders under the National Political Consultative Group, Obi described the North not as a problem, but as “Nigeria’s greatest untapped asset.”
These were contained in a statement that was signed by the spokesperson of Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Ibrahim Umar, and made available to The Guardian yesterday.
Addressing a distinguished audience that included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi said the region’s struggle with insecurity and rising criminality was not rooted in culture or religion, but in deep, systemic poverty.
“You cannot fight poverty without education, And you cannot fight insecurity without addressing hunger and hopelessness,” Obi stated.
“The North has voted for religion and tribe in the past. Now is the time to vote for competence, character, and a shared national vision.”
In his keynote, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, echoed Obi’s sentiments, lamenting the deteriorating security architecture in the North and emphasised the urgency of building a unified platform to rescue the region from decline.
HOWEVER, Garba emphasised that there was no breakdown in proceedings caused by the Jigawa delegation.
According to him, the issue that arose was purely procedural, involving the protocol for who was to speak on behalf of Jigawa. He explained that two individuals had been officially delegated to speak, but ta third person attempted to contribute without following due process, prompting brief objections.
Garba noted that the matter was swiftly resolved following appeals from stakeholders. Ultimately, Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa governor, and another accredited delegate were affirmed as the official spokespeople for the state.
IT was reported that the ADC has been adopted as the platform under which the coalition would contest the 2027 presidential election.
Nwosu disclosed that various committees set up by the party have met with those involved in the talks.
According to him, a final meeting between civil society and citizens’ groups, as well as critical stakeholders, will be held to finalise the decision.
“ADC started a process 16 months ago, and what we have been doing is ensuring that, beyond all the political talks among political leaders, we needed to touch the grassroots, because the situation in the country will either one day call for a citizens’ revolt or a patriots’ coalition,” Nwosu said.
He stressed that the ADC was well regarded by well-meaning Nigerians and patriots as a viable coalition platform.