Barely 24 hours after meeting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has met his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, and other governors elected on the platform of the main opposition party.
Mohammed met with Wike alongside Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) behind closed doors at the Government House in Bauchi.
Speaking, Wike, who spoke on behalf of the leader of the team, apologised on behalf of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, saying he could not make the trip due to other engagements outside the country.
He said the visit was in solidarity to fraternise with Mohammed over the recent happenings between him and Atiku.
“We are here to find out how things are with him, and if there are areas we could offer useful advice to him.
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“Whatever affects him, affects us generally and that is why we came and nothing more than that,” Governor Wike said.
Responding, Mohammed said he was highly impressed and happy to receive his counterparts on a solidarity visit, stressing that “it is a homecoming”.
“They call themselves the integrity group and I’m supposed to be with them but they excommunicated me for some reasons best known to them.
“I’m highly connected with each and everyone of them. There is hardly a day that I don’t call or speak to one of them because in politics, you go with the people you share things in common.
“One thing, I appreciate about them is that they look at your challenges. Their own particular ideas, principles may be slightly different from mine but certainly, I bear and feel their pains as much as they do feel my own pains.
“We share so much in common with you and you know I have challenges in Bauchi State. The challenges of anti-party, challenges of undercutting some of the treachery and mischief,” the governor said.
Governor Mohammed said the visit availed him opportunity to confide some of his worries, fears, and apprehensions.
The PDP Governors’ Integrity Group, otherwise called PDP–G5, has since been calling for the removal of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The aggrieved governors have insisted that it is unfair for the main opposition party to have the national chairman and presidential candidate from the northern region of the country ahead of the 2023 general election, saying Ayu should resign his position for justice, equity, and fairness in the PDP.
