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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, on Monday attended the inauguration of the campaign office of his Allied People’s Movement (APM) counterpart, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in Abuja.
Adding momentum to the opposition coalition rally, Obi, who is a guest speaker, said Makinde is fully qualified to contest the presidency.
“Whoever wins, sincerely, from free, fair and credible elections, we all want to work together to save this country from collapse,” Obi said, underlining the urgent need to address widespread poverty and insecurity.
It also mobilized political actors to change the country’s toxic political culture by centering governance entirely on public welfare and equity.
“Our fight is to feed our people, our fight is to lift our people out of poverty.
“We want a Nigeria where no one’s child can be someone without knowing anyone,” Obi said.
Also, the national leader of APM, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, has warned Nigerians against underestimating the party and its candidate, Makinde, ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Those who ignore us are at their own peril, we are here to restore Nigeria and we are bringing in one of the best human capital Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national level, Makinde,” he said.
He described Makinde as an engineer par excellence, someone who used few resources and accomplished a lot.
“Where there was active neglect, he took urban renewal to a level that no one has ever done,” he said.
Underlining the fundamental philosophy guiding the coalition’s campaign, Mohammed stressed unity, responsibility and the overriding priority of the national interest.
“Our motto is Nigeria first and Nigeria is what we have in mind, it is with Nigeria that we sleep, and it is with Nigeria that we wake up.”
He urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity to build a country where all can realize their aspirations.
Opposition political parties on April 25, in Ibadan, pledged to unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge the ruling party.
In his speech, Lawal Daura, APM’s vice-presidential candidate, said the party will expose “liars and arrogants” if the smear campaigns persist.
Daura stressed that the party focuses on serious governance for the benefit of all citizens rather than viewing national leadership as a joke.
”Makinde and I are not here to take a ride, and we will not take Nigeria as a joke.
“We are here on serious business,” Daura said.
He also urged political actors to compete fairly by marketing their expertise rather than resorting to smears.
“Whenever someone has something to sell, it really doesn’t make sense to destroy another person who might have a similar product to sell,” he added.
