Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Political Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has raised serious concerns about the future of Nigeria under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In an insightful and candid interview, Baba-Ahmed questioned the sustainability of the nation’s growth under the current administration, warning that Nigeria’s survival is in doubt due to the mishandling of crucial national issues by the government.
Baba-Ahmed, who resigned from his role as Political Adviser to the President, expressed his disappointment with the Tinubu administration, which he claims has failed to meet the high expectations that many had for it. He pointed out that despite inheriting the leadership of the country after a challenging tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the current government has done little to address the many problems that continue to plague Nigeria.
“The future doesn’t look healthy with the APC, which is burdened by its own liabilities as well as those inherited from other parties,” Baba-Ahmed stated, emphasizing the growing concerns over the capacity of the ruling party to move Nigeria forward. He pointed to the administration’s lack of tangible reforms as a major cause for alarm, particularly given the challenges that remain unresolved from the previous administration.
One of the key areas of concern for Baba-Ahmed is the government’s failure to fully tap into the potential of younger, more dynamic leaders who could bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the country’s issues. This failure, he believes, is a primary factor contributing to Nigeria’s ongoing struggles in critical areas such as security, economic development, and social progress.
He further stressed the need for a fundamental shift in governance, urging President Tinubu to surround himself with competent and visionary leaders who can help steer the country towards a better future. Baba-Ahmed pointed out that without these changes, the administration will continue to falter and Nigeria’s problems will only deepen.
Reflecting on his own experience in office, Baba-Ahmed shared that he found himself increasingly sidelined within the administration despite his efforts to contribute positively. He lamented the lack of receptiveness to his advice, revealing that many of the issues he could have helped address were ignored, furthering his belief that the government’s decision-making process was fundamentally flawed.
“I did my job as best as I could, but it became clear that there was no room for my contributions. Many of the issues I could have helped address were ignored,” Baba-Ahmed remarked, underscoring the isolation of quality advice within the administration. This disconnect, according to Baba-Ahmed, has led to ineffective governance and poor decision-making, ultimately leaving Nigeria in a precarious situation.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Baba-Ahmed warned Nigerians to remain cautious and vigilant, especially regarding politicians who have previously failed the country. He stressed the importance of electing leaders who genuinely care about resolving Nigeria’s most pressing issues, such as insecurity, poverty, and the deterioration of inter-community relations.
“Nigerians should open their eyes. 2027 will be a very, very important and decisive election. It will determine whether we will continue to sink under the incompetence and indifference of the last 12 years, eight years of Buhari and now four years of Tinubu, or we want to recreate Nigeria and re-engineer it so that it can address the problems of insecurity and poverty and deterioration of inter community relationship,” Baba-Ahmed warned, calling on Nigerians to choose wisely in the upcoming election.
Additionally, Baba-Ahmed dismissed the notion of joining any political coalition that includes former leaders or groups that are responsible for Nigeria’s current state of affairs. He made it clear that he has no interest in aligning himself with those who have contributed to the country’s current predicament.
“I’m not interested in joining any coalition of people who have wrecked the country,” Baba-Ahmed declared, further distancing himself from the political elite who have been part of the problem. This statement reinforces his stance that the future of Nigeria should not be in the hands of individuals who have shown little regard for the country’s well-being.
Baba-Ahmed also emphasized the need for Nigerians to reject politicians who are overly focused on maintaining power at all costs. He argued that the future of the nation does not belong to power-hungry individuals but to the people of Nigeria, who must rise above ethnic and religious divisions in order to make a collective choice for the nation’s future.
“Nigeria can survive and can overcome its problems but it certainly cannot do so under the present leadership or the kind of coalitions of all these politicians who are desperately clinging to power, making it to appear as if the future belongs only to them,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
He further urged Nigerians to look beyond the divisions of North and South, ethnicity, and religion, reminding them that everyone is a victim of the same problems created by the same individuals who are now asking for their trust.
“The future belongs to Nigerians. Nigerians should be very careful, they should not be carried away by all this business of North and South, ethnicity and religion. Everybody is a victim of the same problem created by the same people who are now asking us to trust them, they should not trust them,” Baba-Ahmed concluded, urging the Nigerian populace to reject those who have repeatedly failed them and to take a stand for a better future.