Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Bola Tinubu in the Office of the Vice President, has voiced the growing discontent in Northern Nigeria over what many see as neglect by the current administration.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed outlined the mounting concerns of the North, emphasizing that the region is tired of being politically exploited and economically sidelined.
“The North wants Tinubu to fix its problems, such as insecurity, poverty levels, joblessness, and drugs. The North demands attention,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed, a prominent voice in the Northern Elders Forum, noted that the frustration was palpable during a recent meeting of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), where the tone was markedly different.
“I attended a meeting yesterday of the ACF and the language and atmosphere were different from any other I have seen.
“My group, the Northern Elders Forum, is the more militant group, but the one I attended yesterday was unique in the manner with which people spoke.
“Not hostility, just a demand – the North demands attention as of right, as a part of this country, we demand more attention to insecurity, poverty levels are rising, we are beginning to feel marginalised.”
Baba-Ahmed decried what he described as a cycle of political manipulation, where the North is only remembered during election seasons.
“We look like a region of voters that are used every four years when politicians come around and say we will give you a little bit of rice, Macaroni, and money, we are reduced to voters and remembered only when elections are around.
“With two years to go, the North is saying to Tinubu, look at us, we matter – this country is breaking down, every inch of Nigeria is suffering but the North a lot more than others.”
He concluded by urging a shift from ethno-regional politics to leadership based on competence and equity.
“You won’t get it has to be a Northern this time – you won’t get that type of rhetoric, it has to be a better person this time – we want to see someone who has either worked for the North or will work for the North, South-East, South-South, and South-West.”
