• Demand new direction for Nigeria
• Oshiomhole dismisses Peter Obi’s threat, says public anger drove 2023 votes

Nigeria’s major regional blocs have opened a fresh front for national dialogue, as leaders of Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Middle Belt Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) converged on Abuja to deliberate on the country’s worsening political and socio-economic challenges and the road to 2027.

The high-powered meeting, held at the Abuja Liaison Office of PANDEF, brought together influential voices from the South-West, South-East, Middle Belt and South-South in what observers described as a significant attempt to build a common platform on issues threatening Nigeria’s unity, democracy and development.

Among the prominent figures at the gathering were former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah; a former Enugu State Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo; Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Godknows Igali; Middle Belt Forum leader, Bitrus Pogu, and other leading representatives of the various regional blocs.

Presenting the communiqué at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum and leader of Afenifere, Oladipo Olaitan, said the groups were determined to sustain consultations and promote a national conversation capable of producing solutions to the country’s deepening challenges.

The meeting also underscored the growing concern among regional leaders that the country cannot continue along the current trajectory without fundamental changes in the way it is governed.

The leaders maintained that Nigeria’s challenges require collective action, deeper consultation and a political system that gives all sections of the country a meaningful stake in governance.

MEANWHILE, the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed the notion that Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) poses a major political threat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Edo State governor, who spoke on Monday during his appearance on TVC News’ Beyond The Headlines, said that Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election was driven by public anger over the economic policies of the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oshiomhole, while responding to a question on whether the APC was underestimating Obi’s political influence, particularly after his victory in Lagos and strong showing in the South-East during the 2023 election, said that the former Anambra State governor emerged from an “unusual situation” rather than personal political strength.

According to the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, the cash crunch caused by the naira redesign policy and the fuel scarcity that preceded the 2023 election were behind the widespread voter dissatisfaction that benefited Obi.

Oshiomhole explained that Nigerians were frustrated after being unable to access their money despite having funds in their bank accounts.