December 02, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian mass media became awash with news during the week, when the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, visited Kano-born APC stalwart, Abdulsalam Abdulkarim, also known as AA Zaura.
The news reports had it that Obi visited Zaura at his Abuja residence, where they held a closed-door meeting that lasted for over an hour, but none of the two politicians disclosed the details of the session.
The duo only explained that the meeting was private and left it at that, but Nigerians, especially media professionals, believed that the meeting was far beyond private, given the two politicians’ weight.
Analysts were also of the view that the meeting could not just be dismissed as private, in view of Mr Obi’s recurrent visits to fellow politicians across the country, including former Vice President of Nigeria and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar.
Moreso, because the visit took place when the 2027 general elections were fast approaching and now that we will soon exit the year 2024.
So, Mr Obi’s visit to AA Zaura is far from ordinary, in view of the latter’s political weight in Kano State and the North. The visit is also significant as Zaura had established himself as a renowned philanthropist who has been touching the lives of ordinary people.
Political analysts and observers, therefore, posit that Obi’s August visit to Zaura cannot be cheaply explained away, as his Host, Abdulsalam Abdulkarim AA Zaura possesses a rich pedigree both as a grassroots politician and a philanthropist that can tempt any politician who knows his onions, including the LP presidential candidate.
It should also be noted that Zaura, the President of the AA Zaura Foundation International, was also the APC candidate for the Kano Central Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.
On learning about the meeting from the media, therefore, discerning Nigerians naturally concluded that the encounter between the two political allies was most likely about strategising and realigning ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sources close to both politicians also suggested that the visit was part of Obi’s broader efforts to engage with influential political figures across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 polls.
It was also instructive that before the duo went into the meeting, Obi openly commended Zaura for his exceptional leadership and philanthropic initiatives, particularly through the AA Zaura Foundation International, which he said had been instrumental to the lifting of many Nigerians, especially those from his region, out of poverty.
The former Anambra State Governor also lauded Zaura’s passion towards lifting ordinary Nigerians from being consumption-focused to a people with a production mindset, through his empowerment initiatives, stressing the long-term impact such initiatives brought to the country.
In his response, Zaura expressed his admiration for Obi’s consistent posture on national issues, particularly his commitment to a more prosperous and self-reliant Nigeria, which he said could clearly be seen as his commitment and courage in his Presidential pursuit.
THEWILL recalls that Zaura’s calculative political moves were among several factors that gave President Tinubu victory in 2023.
He insisted at that time, that zoning must be maintained and that the only person that should first benefit from it was Bola Tinubu because of the fact that he was “the last man standing” as far as the chances of the South were concerned and that his struggle for the survival of the polity could only be rewarded by allowing him to be the next President of Nigeria.
In a nutshell, AA Zaura is a big issue in Nigerian politics because of his political influence, courage, zeal and passion for a better Nigeria, which Peter Obi could leverage in his quest to become the next president of the country to enable him to fulfil his pledge to make it a great nation.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
