A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has explained his meeting with Peter Obi, a 2027 presidential aspirant, at the home of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
He said that Peter Obi asked him to support him and noted that the North has vast land for agriculture.
Peter Obi was one of the top politicians that paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former president in Daura, Katsina State on Wednesday, a day after the former military Head of State was laid to rest.
After his visit, Ahmad, a loyalist to Buhari and a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, posted some pictures of himself and Peter Obi having a conversation.
The pictures of Ahmad and Obi did not go down well with Obidients, who resorted to attacking the former aide to Buhari.
Ahmad has come out to explain what Peter Obi told him during the conversation in what he titled ‘My meeting with @PeterObi in Daura’.
“When I arrived at Baba’s residence this morning, many dignitaries were already seated at the place reserved for the prayer session. I first went to greet Mallam Mamman Daura, then moved on to greet Atiku Abubakar, who was sitting beside him. Next was Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and then Mr. Peter Obi, who was sitting on the same chair with Mallam.
“Interestingly, Mr. Obi told me something I recently posted on Twitter. I smiled and continued down the row to greet others. Moments later, @YunusaTanko didn’t realize I had already greeted his boss, so he pointed me out again. I moved closer, and Mr. Obi again offered his condolences on Baba’s passing and told me he admired my loyalty to Baba even after leaving office.
“There was no talk of politics or pictures until much later, when he was about to leave. Coincidentally, I had stepped outside to receive other visitors. We stood for a few moments. In a lighthearted tone, Mr. Obi said I should come and support him, and he also mentioned how he had seen vast land for agriculture on the road coming to Daura.”
Ahmad lamented that, to his surprise, when he posted the pictures he took with Obi on social media, the former Anambra governor’s supporters, the ‘Obidients,’ launched attacks on him.
“Frankly, I had expected the criticism to come from within my party for taking pictures with an opposition leader. Good that my party members understand the situation and we don’t politicize everything,” he said.
“I would like to even make it clear that I didn’t visit Peter Obi; he came to us, and he did so out of respect for President Buhari, and there was nothing political about our brief exchange — it was purely a humane, respectful moment during a time of mourning.
“With such supporters who are only experts in bullying, gatekeeping, and intolerance, it is hard for Mr. Obi to build the broad coalition necessary for him to become President. His supporters are simply not enough on their own to make him President, and worse still, they attack, block, and harass those who might otherwise be willing to help him do so.”