Former Labour Party presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Mr. Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his vision for a united, secure and production-driven Nigeria following a closed-door meeting with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan.
Obi met with Makinde for nearly two hours on Tuesday at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, as part of ongoing consultations among opposition leaders ahead of future political alignments.
Speaking to Government House correspondents after the meeting, Obi said the engagement focused on national issues and the need for collaboration across party lines.
“We came to consult and continue discussions with His Excellency on issues that concern the future of our country,” Obi said. “My brother, the Governor, and I share a common belief that Nigeria must work for everyone, and that is the focus of our engagement.”
He stressed that the talks were not about “politics for its own sake” but about building a stronger nation. “What we are doing is about Nigeria — how we can build a better nation for all our people,” he said.
Obi restated his call for a Nigeria where merit, not connections, determines success. “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 who they know,” he noted.
“A Nigeria where nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody — that is the country we must build,” he added.
On the economy, Obi insisted on a shift from consumption to production to tackle unemployment. “We must move the country from consumption to production and get our people employed. That’s how we build a Nigeria we can all be proud of,” he said.
He maintained that the ultimate goal of the consultations was national progress. “At the end of these engagements, what should come out of it is a better Nigeria,” Obi said.
The meeting came 72 hours after a high-level opposition summit in Ibadan that drew political actors from across the country. It also followed Obi’s recent meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan, signaling intensified consultations among opposition figures.
Obi joined the ADC in December 2025 and formally registered as a member in March 2026.
