Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, to reconsider their political ambitions.
Recently, Baba-Ahmed, who has also advised President Bola Tinubu, suggested that Atiku and Obi should support the younger generation instead of pursuing further electoral ambitions.
Mr Abubakar has attempted to secure the presidency six times without success, while Mr Obi previously served as Abubakar’s running mate in the 2019 elections under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before contesting as the Labour Party’s candidate in 2023.
In an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed stated, “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 believes that the PDP could be competitive in the 2027 presidential election if it chooses 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 remarked.
Baba-Ahmed emphasised that regional origins should no longer be a primary factor in political considerations, saying, “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.”
He expressed scepticism about whether Abubakar and Obi could have governed better than the current administration led by Tinubu. Regarding Obi, he noted, “I know him personally. I think he has good ideas about a lot of things.”
Concerning Abubakar, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged his extensive experience but questioned whether he would have provided better governance, asserting, “All these people—the best service they can render to this country is to retire themselves.” He concluded, “If they don’t, then Nigerians should retire them.”
