By Tekena Amieyeofori
A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has given reasons why the North decided to support the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, Galadima said the region sees an Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso joint ticket as the most viable option to rescue Nigeria from the throes of identity politics and economic stagnation, and drive national reconciliation.
He noted that the endorsement was driven by political strategy, not by ethnicity or religion.
Galadima described the Obi-Kwankwaso pairing as a “healing ticket” that could help the country put past divisions behind it and promote unity.
He said: “We aligned with Obi and we have a reason. In politics, you do mathematics, and you calculate; it is our belief that is the only ticket that can salvage Nigeria.
“Not only salvation; it is a ticket we call the healing ticket, such that we can forget the past. After all, a lot of people call us names because we brought Obi.
“I don’t want to mention tribe or religion in my politics, but we are being called a lot of names. You may never know. We’ve been having this fight in this part of the country.”
He revealed that he and other Obi supporters have spent over two years working to strengthen political ties between northern leaders and their counterparts from the South-East.
The aim, he explained, is to present Obi as a national figure, not one tied to a particular region.
“We are making Peter Obi a Nigerian president, not an Igbo president,” he declared.
Galadima also noted that politicians promoting anti-Obi sentiments are from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as other opposition parties.
The outspoken politician faulted opposition leaders for being preoccupied with internal disputes instead of focusing on unseating the APC.
He further reminded supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who have been criticising the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket that Obi served as Atiku’s running mate in 2019.
According to him, an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would make insecurity, agriculture, and education top priorities, with special focus on the North.
He added that Obi has committed to directly handling those three priorities and working with northern stakeholders to craft solutions if elected.
Galadima took responsibility for the role his generation of politicians played in deepening ethnic and religious divides.
“Of course, we did create this problem. We were part of it,” he admitted.
He also faulted the APC government for sidelining agriculture and adopting food-import policies that he said have hurt local farmers, though he did not provide data to back the claim during the interview.
The NDC leader said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket plans to channel investment into farming, local production, and vocational skills to address joblessness.
Despite the resistance in the North, Galadima insisted the alliance transcends ethnic and religious lines.
“This ticket is not about Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, Islam or Christianity. This ticket is about Nigeria,” he said.