Former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his long-standing ambition of becoming Nigeria’s president.
Baba-Ahmed, who recently resigned as Political Adviser to the President in the Office of the Vice President, said Atiku—who has contested the presidency six times—should instead focus on supporting a new generation of leaders.
He urged Tinubu to step aside for “a new generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas.”
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu on 23 April, Baba-Ahmed had also advised the president to forgo a second-term bid in 2027, warning that seeking re-election would be “a grave mistake” given the nation’s political and economic state.
Asked during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday if he would direct a similar appeal to Atiku, Baba-Ahmed said he would advise him to adopt a more elder statesman-like role.
“It doesn’t matter where the person comes from. At this point, anyone still talking about North or South is missing the point. We need competence and vision.”
Like Atiku, Obi, others must retire—or be retired
Baba-Ahmed also expressed doubts about whether either Atiku or Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would have done better than the current Tinubu administration.
“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 said.
Baba-Ahmed believes the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could be competitive in the 2027 presidential election if it fields a younger, visionary candidate.
“If they present someone younger, with fewer skeletons, better health and fresh ideas, they could wipe the floor with the APC. This country is hungry for leadership with vision and empathy,” he said.
He stressed that regional origins should no longer dominate political considerations.
On Obi, he said: “I really don’t know, to be honest. I know him personally. I think he has good ideas about a lot of things.”
As for Atiku, he said while the former vice president has extensive experience, he is not convinced he would have offered better governance.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Nigeria’s political veterans should step aside to allow a younger, more service-oriented generation to emerge.
“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.”
Atiku, who was PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, has not ruled out another run in 2027. But Baba-Ahmed, who recently served as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President, described such ambitions as a distraction.
“You’re letting the PDP fool you into thinking there’ll be an election next year. You’re falling into a trap. Focus on governance. You’ve got an uncompleted job to do,” he said.
DAILY TRUST.
