Datti Baba-Ahmed Slams Opposition Coalition, Says Atiku and Obi Are Selfish
Abuja, Nigeria | July 6, 2025 – IDNN Political Desk
Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has taken a swing at top opposition figures—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others—accusing them of being selfish and unprepared for the political sacrifice needed to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
In a candid interview with Daily Trust, Baba-Ahmed expressed deep skepticism about the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition movement, warning that unless key players place country over ambition, the alliance is destined to fail.
“Everyone seems only interested in their own candidacy,” he said.
“I don’t yet see anyone in this coalition who can scheme and plan over 16 years like Tinubu did.”
“You Must Do the Unthinkable” — Baba-Ahmed
The vocal economist, best known for his blunt rhetoric, challenged the coalition to learn from Tinubu’s long-term strategy that included supporting rivals before eventually clinching power.
“Tinubu gave Atiku the ACN in 2007, Ribadu in 2011, and backed Buhari in 2015. He waited till 2023 to take it himself. That’s how he became President,” he argued.
Baba-Ahmed insisted that unless the coalition sacrifices individual ambition, it stands no chance against a well-entrenched ruling party.
“If this coalition thinks it’s business as usual, it won’t work. It has to be less about ambition and more about Nigeria. More action, less talk,” he said.
A Coalition Fractured by Ambition
His remarks come just days after the ADC-led group announced David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as interim national chairman and secretary respectively. Critics say the move reflects the recycling of political elites rather than a genuine generational shift.
Obi and Atiku have both publicly supported the coalition, calling for unity and vowing to dismantle Tinubu’s political structure. However, Baba-Ahmed’s bombshell suggests deep cracks within the opposition ranks.
He also questioned the sincerity of Atiku Abubakar, citing his record of running for president since 1993.
“This will be Atiku’s seventh run. But who among them will step aside and say, ‘Let someone else go, I’ll support them’? I haven’t seen that,” he said.
Tinubu’s Shadow Looms Large
Baba-Ahmed made it clear he wasn’t praising Tinubu but was simply stating a political reality.
“To defeat this phenomenon called Tinubu, you must do the unthinkable,” he warned.
His comments come amid growing doubts about the ADC’s strength as a platform, given its historically weak grassroots structures. Analysts now question whether it can carry the weight of such a high-stakes national opposition movement.
IDNN VERDICT:
Baba-Ahmed’s critique exposes what Nigerians have suspected: the opposition’s biggest threat isn’t APC—it’s themselves. Without discipline and sacrifice, 2027 may be lost before it begins.
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