Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Says He Won’t Work For Tinubu’s Government Again

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, says he doesn’t regret taking the job, but he wouldn’t accept the role again if offered.

Baba-Ahmed, who was appointed in 2023 to serve in Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office, stepped down from his position in April.

On Thursday, during an interview on “Politics Today” on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed explained why he chose to leave.

According to him, the main reason for his resignation was that the Tinubu administration lacked the drive and commitment needed to fix Nigeria.

He said he didn’t see the passion or urgency to tackle the country’s major problems, noting that he resigned because he felt there was no room to make a real impact.

When asked if he would work with the current government again, he replied, “The way the Tinubu government is going—no.”

He added, “Regretting going in, I don’t. I got out because there was no space, I didn’t see that fire, that commitment, zeal to fix the country that has been wrecked. I saw instead a country that is just getting worse.”

Baba-Ahmed also said he couldn’t continue working with a government that has failed to live up to its promises, especially when it comes to tackling poverty and insecurity in the northern region.

He revealed that President Tinubu had asked for a personal meeting after his resignation, but he declined, saying he would have told the President things he might not want to hear—like urging him not to run for re-election in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed suggested that Tinubu should back a younger, more energetic candidate from his party to take over in the next election cycle.

Reflecting on his role, Baba-Ahmed admitted he didn’t get the chance to do what he was appointed for.

“No, I didn’t do any job. I was supposed to be an adviser on political matters to the President in the office of the Vice President, but I didn’t do any advising,” he said.

As for how the North feels about Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed said people in the region want the President to focus on their real issues—like insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse.

KanyiDaily recalls that Kenneth Okonkwo recently said that opposition parties will need to come together if they want any chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.