Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum and ex-Political Adviser to the Vice President, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step back from his long-standing pursuit of Nigeria’s presidency.
According to him, Atiku who has contested the presidency six times, should now assume the role of a statesman and support emerging leaders.
In a recent interview on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed expressed the same sentiments he shared in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu on April 23, where he advised Tinubu not to seek re-election in 2027. He argued that the country’s current state calls for a generational shift in leadership.
“If I could speak with Atiku, I would tell him the same thing I told President Tinubu—step aside and support a younger, more dynamic generation,” Baba-Ahmed stated, stressing that both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP need fresh, visionary candidates.
He suggested that the PDP stands a better chance in 2027 if it fields a younger, healthier candidate with integrity and innovative ideas. “Nigerians are desperate for leadership rooted in competence and empathy,” he said, dismissing the importance of regional origin in leadership selection.
Baba-Ahmed also cast doubt on whether Atiku or Labour Party’s Peter Obi could have outperformed President Tinubu, though he acknowledged Obi’s potential and ideas. Nevertheless, he maintained that the older generation of politicians must bow out. “The best service they can render now is to retire or be retired by voters,” he said.
Addressing speculation around his resignation from the Tinubu administration earlier this year, Baba-Ahmed said he accepted the appointment out of patriotism but left due to a lack of seriousness in governance. Despite being designated as a senior political adviser, he claimed he was never truly involved in policy matters nor had direct access to the president.
“I took the job hoping to contribute meaningfully to rebuilding the country. But there was no commitment, no drive,” he said. “I never even met the president during my tenure.”
He emphasized that while Vice President Shettima was not sidelined, the administration lacked the urgency to tackle the nation’s deepening problems. “I wouldn’t take the job again,” he said. “I don’t regret accepting it, but I saw no real will to fix Nigeria.”
Baba-Ahmed also criticized the APC for becoming a haven for politicians seeking protection from prosecution. “People aren’t defecting to APC for policy reasons—they’re looking for safety,” he said, adding that the EFCC lacks the independence to tackle corruption effectively.
He reserved his harshest criticism for former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling him the worst leader Nigeria has had. Despite supporting him in 2015, Baba-Ahmed said Buhari governed with apathy and failed to prioritize the country’s needs. “He didn’t represent the North or any real agenda just himself,” he said.
Comparing the Tinubu administration to Buhari’s, Baba-Ahmed noted that the country’s challenges particularly in the North have only worsened. “More lives are being lost now than before, but officials claim violence is down. Where do they get their data?” he asked.
He warned that Nigerians are losing patience with leadership that lacks vision, accountability, and empathy.