Barely 24 hours after former vice president Atiku Abubakar visited his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the political camp of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has intensified the push for the governor’s presidential ambition in 2027.
Although Atiku said his visit to Obasanjo was not related to the 2027 election, insiders hinted LEADERSHIP that the former vice president, who was accompanied on the visit by by former Cross Rivers State governor, Liyel Imoke; Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi; and former Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal, said the visit was to seek the former president’s blessing in light of a budding political coalition.
The former vice president, who after the 2023 election, began a for a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 election, has joined forces with other opposition politicians including, former presidential candidate Peter Obi; former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; former minister, Chibuike Amaechi; and others in an emerging political coalition.
Meanwhile, indications of Governor Mohammed presidential ambition in 2027, came to the fore when he said he won’t contest if former President Goodluck Jonathan, in whose administration he served as minister, decides to run.
Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of PDP, and Mohammed, chairman of the PDP governors forum, are from the North East Zone. It however remains to be seen if the party will throw its presidential ticket open to all geopolitical zones like it did in 2023, a major plank on which various crises erupted in the party.
However, less than 24 hours after Atiku met with Obasanjo, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Natural Resources Development, Hon. Muhammad Maiwada Bello, said the state governor’s youth-centered leadership has positioned him as a credible contender for the presidency, adding that “His administration is seen as a model for how inclusive governance can drive sustainable progress.”
In an interview with journalists in Bauchi yesterday, Bello said Governor Mohammed’s administration has surpassed both his predecessors in the state and other governors nationwide in providing young people with opportunities to serve in government.
He said the governor has set a national precedent by appointing more youths to key government positions than any other governor in Nigeria.
“The governor is committed to building an administration that reflects the energy and innovation of the youth. No other government in the country has given young people as many opportunities to serve in high-level positions as Governor Bala Mohammed’s,” Bello stated.
Bello added that Governor Mohammed’s youth-focused policies are evident across the State Executive Council, local governments, and advisory roles, where young professionals hold critical positions and contribute to key policy implementations.
The commissioner noted that these appointments are part of a broader vision to create a government that values fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
“Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration is a testament to his belief that young people are not just the future but essential to shaping the present. He has created a platform for them to actively contribute to the development of the state,” Bello added.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Bello called on Nigerian youths to rally behind Governor Mohammed, arguing that his leadership record demonstrates a clear commitment to empowering young people.
“For years, youths have clamored for leaders who prioritise their interests and create opportunities for them to thrive. Governor Bala Mohammed has proven himself as such a leader. It is now time for the youth to rally behind him and support his vision at the national level,” Bello urged.
He further stated that with Governor Mohammed as president, Nigeria would witness a government that fully harnesses the potential of its youth population, fostering innovation, inclusion, and national development.
He argued that his rise to the presidency would ensure the continuation of policies that prioritise young people, securing their active participation in shaping the nation’s future.
