While confirming news of his resignation from President Tinubu’s government, prominent Northern technocrat, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Office of the Vice President), has publicly declared that nobody can become the President of Nigeria without the full backing of the Northern oligarchy, warning that anything contrary would be met with consequences.
He said this while addressing his resignation for the first time, issuing a powerful message centered on the political future of Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Zaria shortly after the wedding of his daughter, Baba-Ahmed emphasized that the North must take full responsibility for its own future, warning against the dangers of political complacency and electoral malpractice.
“You know I just recently resigned. So I’m yet to make public comments. But if I’m to speak, you would see similarities of thought between me and Prof. Usman,” he said, referring to Professor Yusuf Usman, the former executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, who was seated beside him at the event.
Dr. Baba-Ahmed stressed that the challenges facing Northern Nigeria transcend religious, ethnic, and regional lines, stating that the current realities are reminiscent of the insecurity and hardship that existed prior to the Buhari administration.
“We experienced similar turmoil before Buhari came to power. Back then, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, and major cities like Abuja and Lagos. We are back to that uncertainty now,” he noted.
Addressing the 2027 elections, Baba-Ahmed asserted that no politician would be allowed to impose leadership on the North without offering a credible and actionable plan for regional development.
“There is no politician that would come and dictate to us the direction to follow. Who are you? Nobody would accept that,” he declared. “You must present your blueprint, show us how you will tackle our problems practically.”
He lamented that despite being an integral part of Nigeria, the North continues to suffer socio-economic neglect. “We are citizens too. Buhari ruled for eight years, now there is a new administration, yet the cries of the people are louder than ever.”
The elder statesman also hinted at a major political shift on the horizon, suggesting that the North would soon unveil a clear stance ahead of the 2027 elections.
“In the next six months, Insha Allah, there will be a major movement and realignment. Whether others join us or not, the direction will be clear. What is certain is that no one becomes Nigeria’s president without the support of the North.”
He warned that any attempt to rig the 2027 election could have grave consequences. “Unless they want to organize a fraudulent election to cheat us — and if that happens, it could spell the end of Nigeria.”
Concluding, Dr. Baba-Ahmed called on northerners to reflect deeply on past choices and rise above divisive politics. “We must unite and chart a new path. The time of voting based on sentiment is over. What we need is a capable leader who understands our plight and can lead us out of these challenges.”
His comments signal a growing discontent within parts of Northern leadership and underscore the region’s potential to influence the outcome of the next general elections, and the usual intentional display of political superiority by the North over other zones in Nigeria.