“Nigeria Is Worse Off Today Than Buhari Left It” — Baba-Ahmed Speaks
By IDNN Politics & Governance Desk
In a no-holds-barred television appearance, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Shettima, delivered a scathing critique of the Tinubu administration—accusing it of deepening poverty, failing on security, and pushing Nigeria further into despair.
Appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed declared:
“It is worse than Buhari left it.”
He went further:
“If I met the President today, I would say one thing—Mr. President, please do not run again.”
Inflation, Violence, Disillusionment
Baba-Ahmed highlighted the government’s poor handling of the economy, referencing National Bureau of Statistics data that inflation skyrocketed from 22.41% in May 2023 to 34.6% by November 2024.
The pain, he argued, is not just in numbers:
“Go to Katsina, Zamfara, Niger… more blood is being shed now than two years ago. These stats don’t reflect the lived reality.”
He accused the President’s advisers of insulating him from truth, noting a widening gulf between “what Tinubu’s men say Nigeria is and what Nigeria actually is.”
“You Had a Mandate to Fix It, Not Make It Worse”
Baba-Ahmed disclosed that he resigned from his advisory position after realizing there was “no fire, no direction, no zeal” in the Tinubu government.
He criticized the President for taking bold steps like removing petrol subsidies and floating the naira “without a shock absorber plan,” pushing millions deeper into hardship.
“From day one, he pushed the country to the deep end. We never recovered.”
“Leave in 2027, Pass the Torch to Youths”
Dr. Baba-Ahmed also urged Tinubu to emulate legacy leaders by grooming a younger, healthier, and more focused successor for 2027.
“You’ve done your bit. Find someone from your party—young, committed, desperate to fix Nigeria. History will remember you more kindly.”
He warned that endless political ambition could eclipse real service.
Regrets Over Buhari, But Still Hopes for Redemption
Baba-Ahmed admitted that supporting Buhari in 2015 was a mistake:
“We supported him because Jonathan was weak on corruption and Boko Haram. We thought Buhari would govern. He didn’t.”
Yet he insists he joined Tinubu’s team hoping to help fix that damage — only to walk away when he realized “this wasn’t the government that would do it.”
“I’m Done. I Won’t Return.”
Asked if he would serve again if called back, Baba-Ahmed was firm:
“Never. Not for anything. I’ve done my bit. I have to move on.”
He criticized politicians who “jump from party to party” and insisted he would not be one of them.
