By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has continued his nationwide consultations, meeting with elder statesmen, professionals and young Nigerians as part of efforts to promote unity and explore practical pathways to rebuilding the country.
In a statement on Wednesday, Obi said he travelled to Zaria to meet with Professor Ango Abdullahi, a renowned academic and respected voice in Nigeria’s national discourse. According to him, discussions focused on the state of the nation, the urgent need for unity, and the responsibility of leaders to rise above divisions in the pursuit of the common good.
*With Ango Abdullahi
Obi noted that the conversation addressed the multiple challenges confronting Nigeria and underscored the importance of deliberate leadership committed to national cohesion and inclusive progress.
While in Zaria, Obi also interacted with a group of graduating pilots at the airport. He said the young professionals expressed optimism about the future, adding that he encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to excellence, stressing that Nigeria needs skilled and principled citizens to drive development.
From Zaria, Obi proceeded to Niger State, where he met with former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. He recalled a previous discussion with Babangida about the book Growing Apart, which compares the development trajectories of Indonesia and Nigeria, two countries that once shared similar prospects but experienced different outcomes.
Obi said he obtained an autographed copy of the book from the author during a recent trip to the United States and presented it to Babangida as a follow-up to their earlier conversation. He explained that their latest meeting centred on national unity, security and strategies for improving the lives of Nigerians.
According to Obi, the engagements reinforced his belief that Nigeria’s progress depends on honest dialogue, shared responsibility and collective commitment to the nation’s future.
He reaffirmed his optimism about the country’s prospects, declaring that a new and better Nigeria remains achievable.