Former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to relinquish his presidential ambitions and instead embrace an elder statesman role, urging a new generation of leaders to take the helm. This comes amidst broader calls for political veterans to step aside, including a similar plea to President Bola Tinubu.
Elder Statesman Role Urged
Baba-Ahmed, speaking on Channels Television, advised Atiku, who has contested the presidency six times, to focus on mentoring younger leaders. “If I had the chance, I’d tell Atiku the same thing. He’s done his bit. He’s been persistent. But now, he should play a fatherly role—help identify and support younger leaders,” he stated. He also expressed optimism that the PDP could be competitive in 2027 with a younger, visionary candidate, emphasizing that competence, not regional origin, should be the deciding factor.
Like Atiku, Obi, Others Must Retire—or Be Retired
Baba-Ahmed extended his call for retirement to other political veterans, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi. He expressed skepticism about whether either would have outperformed the current administration, arguing that a new generation is needed. “All these people—the best service they can render to this country is to retire themselves,” he said. “If they don’t, then Nigerians should retire them.”
Why I Left Tinubu’s Government
Baba-Ahmed also shed light on his recent resignation as Political Adviser to the President in the Office of the Vice President, citing disillusionment with the government’s approach. He revealed he felt he had no real input. “I left because I didn’t see the fire, the commitment, the zeal to fix the country. Instead, things got worse,” he explained. Despite his initial patriotic motivations, he criticized the lack of preparation and responsiveness in addressing the nation’s challenges.
On the North, Political ‘Refugee Camps’, and the APC
Baba-Ahmed painted a grim picture of northern Nigeria, plagued by poverty, insecurity, and a drug crisis, while also accusing politicians of using the APC as a “political refugee camp.” He alleged that defections to the APC are driven by self-preservation rather than ideology, and criticized the perceived lack of independence within the EFCC.
‘Buhari Didn’t Represent the North—He Was the Worst President’
In a scathing assessment, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the notion that former President Muhammadu Buhari represented northern interests, labeling his tenure as the worst in Nigeria’s history. “He didn’t represent the North—he represented himself,” he stated. He criticized Buhari’s lack of interest in governance and his failure to address corruption and unify the country. He also stated that the current administration has worsened the countries issues.
Baba-Ahmed concluded by reiterating his call for a new generation of leaders, expressing deep concern over the current state of the nation.