A former Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has called on prominent Nigerian politicians, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidential candidates Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to step aside and not contest for the 2027 presidential elections.
Baba-Ahmed, who made the statement during an interview with Trust TV, argued that the time has come for a new generation of leaders to take charge of the country’s future.
According to him, the current politicians no longer have anything to offer Nigerians because they have “played themselves out.”
“Peter Obi, Kwankwaso should also step aside for the younger generation, alongside President Tinubu and Atiku,” he said.
“This particular generation has played itself out, they really have nothing to offer this country.”
Baba-Ahmed criticized the prevailing political climate, describing it as driven by selfish ambition and a refusal to embrace fresh ideas.
He argued that the politics of “winner takes all” and clinging to power at all costs has led to poor governance and national stagnation.
“We are going through the same politics again where there is bitterness and the winner takes it all, it has to be me at all costs, and when you get to power, you don’t have the energy and the strength to tackle the country,” he added.
He emphasized that the nation needs a new direction, and questioned whether the older generation of politicians can offer any meaningful change.
“So long as it’s one of these guys, the rest will not step down. I don’t expect all of them to go into a room and say let’s all step down for Nigeria. I’m not sure their patriotism is that high for all of them to agree,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“The point I’m making is that the nation needs a new lease of life. I don’t see Nigeria with a bright future under these tired and elderly politicians who have spent the last 20 to 30 years just simply managing power.”
Baba-Ahmed also criticized the idea that a president must serve two terms, calling it a damaging tradition.
He argued that this mentality, tied to regional politics, leads to leaders clinging to power even when they are no longer capable of delivering results.
“One of the distracting things is this nonsense that once you are president, you must serve for two terms. Who said that?” he asked.
“When the NEF realized that Buhari was bad news for this country, he wasn’t performing and not willing to fix this country, we rallied other groups in the country.”
“We met here in Abuja and told the nation that we don’t trust Buhari with another four years, and we were right. Ohanaeze, NEF, Afenifere, and I think about four or five groups met in Abuja and said Buhari should not be given a second term.”
“But now you hear things like he must do his eight years, what about the South? We have taken to very crude politics and put it on the constitution where everyone is saying the South must have its eight years because Buhari did.
“Where is this thing coming from? These are some of the rubbish that is poisoning the politics. Even if you can’t perform, what if you have health or age issues, must you remain president for eight years simply because you come from one part of the country? This is the kind of thinking that keeps us declining permanently.”
