Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Vice President, has opened up about his time in government.
Speaking on ARISE TV, he said his experience in the current administration was disappointing and fell short of expectations.
Baba-Ahmed, who worked closely within the presidency for 18 months, stated that he joined the Tinubu-led government with high hopes.
However, he soon realized that things were not as he had imagined.
“I only saw President Tinubu three times in the mosque in the presidential villa. But I had never had a chance to sit down and talk with President Tinubu,” he revealed.
According to him, the president’s distance from aides posed a bigger issue than personal discontent.
“I think part of the problem is that Tinubu never had time for people like us. I don’t think he had time for a lot of people working for him,” he said.
Moreover, Baba-Ahmed described the president as “really and genuinely isolated,” a situation he believes is harmful to the country.
“The bottom line is, he ought to be available for the people he trusted and worked for him. And that’s the problem for the country, not for him,” he warned.
Reflecting on Vice President Kashim Shettima’s role, Baba-Ahmed dismissed claims of a power struggle.
“No, I didn’t see any of these…” he said. However, he added that the lack of importance attached to the office was evident. “Basically, that was what I met,” he said.
He explained that while he had daily contact with the Vice President, the office itself lacked power.
“The role demands more than conversations,” he added, noting the recurring problem of undefined duties for vice presidents in Nigerian leadership.
The former aide also touched on the pressing issues Nigerians face daily.
“We work in the Villa and we go home and meet the people, and we know how the country is—how desperate people are, the difficult lives, the insecurity,” he said.
He continued, “People are losing hope, asking what is the value of this democracy. And sometimes people ask what are we doing there? Asking us, are we really advising the president about some of these things?”
Baba-Ahmed noted that meaningful change will only happen if the president surrounds himself with capable and honest advisers.
“If the president has a quality of people talking and advising him about the real issues on ground, I think the country would be better,” he said.
Furthermore, he voiced his concern about the president’s long-term political focus, warning against a fixation on 2027.
“You hold what your opposition lacks: the power to reduce the harshness of life for the average Nigerian. Use it well. Watch 2027, yes—but don’t become consumed by it,” he said.
He restated his earlier position that President Tinubu should consider stepping aside ahead of the next elections.
“Step aside not for your opponents, but for a new generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas,” he advised.
According to Baba-Ahmed, what the country needs now is a shared effort to bring positive change.
He admitted that the administration had inherited a broken economy and a tired population.
However, he faulted the failure to convert the energy of Tinubu’s inauguration into real leadership.
“More than half its members have no business managing an administration tasked with improving security, livelihoods, or public trust,” he said, referring to the cabinet.
The former aide’s account paints a sobering picture of Nigeria’s current leadership and calls for deep national reflection.
