Datti Baba-Ahmed Says No One Can Fix Nigeria, Not Even Obi

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, says none of the politicians running against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election can help Nigeria. This includes his former running mate, Peter Obi.

Baba-Ahmed shared this in an interview on the Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, which was posted on Saturday.

He was asked what advice he would give to Tinubu about leading the country. He said the President should get ready to leave office but not give power to any of the politicians who are running against him.

"I will simply advise uncle (Tinubu) to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him because none of them will improve Nigeria," he said.

When asked if he meant all the opposition candidates, Baba-Ahmed replied, "None of that part. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another."

The host pointed out that Baba-Ahmed was also referring to Peter Obi. Baba-Ahmed said, "Including Peter Obi, I’m sorry to say."

Baba-Ahmed reminded everyone that Obi was once part of the Peoples Democratic Party when it was the ruling party. He insisted that he wanted "a whole new Nigeria."

"Tell me one politician who has never been in a ruling party. Tell me," he challenged.

When Okinbaloye noted that Baba-Ahmed had also been in politics and served in the National Assembly, Baba-Ahmed responded that he had never been in a ruling party.

"I have never been in a ruling party. While I was in CPC, CPC was the leading opposition party, even above ANPP then. When they merged with APC and came to power, you have my letter of resignation from the then, uh, APC because… even though I was, because I have never had a card, a membership card of APC. Never. I never had a membership card of APC," he clarified.

He explained that his criticism was not just about party membership but also about the political history of those challenging Tinubu.

Baba-Ahmed and Obi were the Labour Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the 2023 election.

Later, Baba-Ahmed left the Labour Party for the Peoples Redemption Party. At the same time, Obi changed parties, first moving to the African Democratic Congress before joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which made him its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.