Former Northern Elders Forum spokesperson, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to drop his 2027 re-election plan. He said Nigeria needs a younger, healthier and more energetic leader to rescue the country from deepening crises.
Baba-Ahmed made the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. He stressed that President Tinubu had already achieved his long-term ambition of becoming Nigeria’s leader, noting that the president should now prioritise supporting a capable successor inside the APC.
He argued that the country has not felt the urgency required to solve its worsening problems. According to him, President Tinubu has not demonstrated the decisive leadership Nigerians expected when he took office.
“When I left the administration, I told many people that I hoped President Tinubu would not run again in 2027,” he said. “He has achieved his ambition to become president, but I do not believe he has managed the country effectively so far.”
Baba-Ahmed added that the strategic thinking and political drive that many associated with Tinubu were missing in his current administration. He insisted that the president should step aside for someone younger and more focused if the ruling APC hopes to reconnect with frustrated Nigerians.
He said the party must present a leader who can handle Nigeria’s urgent challenges without delay or hesitation.
He also criticised what he described as weak responses to several national controversies. According to him, the silence and slow reactions reflect a larger governance problem that the country can no longer afford.
“The truth is that Nigeria is facing severe deterioration in many areas, and we cannot continue to operate as though everything is normal,” he said.
He warned that insecurity, economic hardship and public frustration were rising daily. He noted that citizens were losing confidence in the government’s ability to protect or provide for them.
The former presidential aide said Nigeria needs clear direction, bold governance and serious reforms.
He argued that the ruling APC must be honest with itself by choosing a candidate who represents the future, not the past.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments come as debates intensify within the APC over whether President Tinubu should seek re-election despite ongoing national difficulties.