Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on Thursday has declared himself a “freelance politician” with no direct ties to any political party.
Mohammed made the declaration to visiting chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi, and stakeholders from the South-East in Bauchi.
The governor said the meeting centred on national unity and collaboration, adding that the discussions were not on partisan interests.
He said “neither the 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.
According to him, ongoing engagements among political actors were focused on possible realignment and cooperation ahead of future elections, adding that “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.”
Mohammed said Obi’s visit was symbolic, adding 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,” Mohammed said.
Obi said his visit was aimed at bringing unity and strengthening collaboration in the country, adding that “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, saying the engagement was not about party alignment. “We are not inviting each other into political parties; we are inviting ourselves to build a better Nigeria,” he added.
Several South-East stakeholders including former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, and Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh were part of the delegation.
