Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has taken a swipe at leading opposition figures in Nigeria, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, accusing them of pursuing political office rather than providing genuine opposition leadership.
Speaking during an appearance on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme, Baba-Ahmed questioned the response of opposition politicians to the country’s worsening security crisis, particularly in the wake of recent bomb attacks in Borno State.
According to him, real opposition leadership goes beyond issuing statements and social media posts, insisting that leaders must identify directly with citizens affected by insecurity.
“Before he (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?” he asked.
Baba-Ahmed recalled how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari visited Maiduguri during the height of the insurgency, describing such actions as a demonstration of solidarity with victims and affected communities.
“Is that not what Tinubu and the late Baba Buhari did in 2013 or 2014? They went and walked on the streets of Maiduguri, shaking hands with people and all that,” he said.
The former vice-presidential candidate argued that many opposition figures have reduced their interventions to online commentary rather than taking practical steps to engage with Nigerians facing security challenges.
“No, it’s not enough that they are tweeting about it, that’s child’s play. They are not opposition members, they are office seekers,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
While criticising the broader opposition camp, he singled out former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for commendation.
“There is an outlier among them. I’ve always told you, if I have my way, Amaechi is an excellent material, but I don’t have my way,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also reflected on his political relationship with Peter Obi, revealing that he had disagreed with some of the former Anambra State governor’s political decisions.
“I’ve been in support of Peter LP in any case, but Peter left where I said he should leave. He went somewhere and he left again where I told him was not suitable for him,” he added.
