ABUJA — Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has launched a scathing critique of Nigeria’s prominent opposition figures, specifically naming Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.In a recent appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Baba-Ahmed dismissed them as “office seekers” rather than individuals providing genuine opposition leadership.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments centered on what he described as a lack of tangible solidarity with citizens suffering from the country’s worsening security crisis. Referencing recent bomb blasts in Borno State, he challenged opposition leaders to move beyond online commentary and instead demonstrate leadership through direct engagement with affected communities.
“Before he (President Tinubu) went to the UK, there were two deadly bomb blasts in Borno. Tell me, in all these opposition leaders, who has led us to go and walk on the streets of Maiduguri?” Baba-Ahmed asked.
He compared the current climate to the pre-2015 era, noting that both President Bola Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari had once walked the streets of Maiduguri during the height of the insurgency to show solidarity. He dismissed modern opposition interventions such as posting on social media as “child’s play,” reiterating that true opposition requires identifying physically with victims of insecurity.
The former vice-presidential candidate also reflected on his own political journey and his relationship with Peter Obi. He admitted to disagreements with some of the former Anambra governor’s political decisions, noting that he had previously advised Obi against certain moves that he felt were unsuitable.
However, Baba-Ahmed offered a notable exception to his critique of the opposition bloc. He identified former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as an “outlier” among his peers, describing him as “excellent material” for leadership, though he lamented that he lacked the influence to shape Amaechi’s political path.
