Zaria, Nigeria — Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former political adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, don talk say Northern Nigeria go no longer dey vote blindly or repeat past mistakes as dem prepare for 2027 election. Baba-Ahmed, wey be ex-spokesman for Northern Elders Forum (NEF), make this statement during an interview with journalists for Zaria over the weekend.
For him words, politicians wey wan get support from the North gats to explain wetin dem go do for the region and how dem go carry am out. He emphasised, “We don shine our eyes now,” indicating that the political landscape don change.
Baba-Ahmed, who resign from him role as special adviser few weeks ago, confirm say he initially sidon dey avoid media but he saw an opportunity to speak during his daughter’s wedding, where he made some comments wey don now go viral.
“Up till now, I haven’t started saying anything, I have my reasons,” he explain, “But we don see everything wey don happen. Nobody fit come dey deceive northerners, because we don learn from our past.”
He lamented about the conditions wey dey plague the region. “We experienced Buhari’s eight years, and now, look at us still wailing under this government. We want a government wey go fit understand our concerns and respond accordingly,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also raise serious concerns for the future direction of the North, predicting an imminent political shift that go affect who go lead Nigeria in 2027. “In the next six months, we go witness changes wey go determine our political direction,” he warned, insisting say no president fit win without strong northern support.
“Those wey dey downplay our power go regret am, especially if dem try manipulate election outcome in 2027,” he stated. “Rigging elections fit endanger the very foundation of Nigeria.”
When asked about the “shift,” Baba-Ahmed highlight the need for unity among northerners, calling for a collective action to take back their power. “Northerners must take responsibility,” he urged.
“The injustice don go too far. We don dey pushed to the wall, and time don reach for us to talk up.” He also cautioned against falling for divisive politics, pointing out that all ethnic and religious groups in the North face similar challenges.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments don attract a range of reactions, especially from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). APC National Director of Publicity Alhaji Bala Ibrahim dismissed Baba-Ahmed’s statements as mere personal opinion, saying: “His opinion go not change anything for 2027.”
On the other side, some observers don commend Baba-Ahmed as a voice for the voiceless in the North. His past criticisms of both ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan on governance issues show consistency in his advocacy for better leadership.
Though Baba-Ahmed yans say politicians no go fit deceive Northerners anymore, reactions continue to show that sentiment dey split across the political spectrum. Many dey watch to see how this political drama go unfold as Nigeria approaches the important 2027 election.
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