2027: Obi, Atiku and others do not have the capacity to move Nigeria forward

The Labor Party (LP) vice presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, says President Bola Tinubu’s main rival in the 2027 election does not have the capacity to move Nigeria forward.

Baba-Ahmed, who is Peter Obi’s running mate in 2023, made the remarks while appearing on the MicOn Podcast on Saturday, arguing that politicians who have contributed to Nigeria’s current state cannot be relied on to change the country.

“I would only advise Uncle (Tinubu) to be prepared to surrender and walk away, but not to those who oppose him,” he said.

“Because none of them will fix Nigeria. Everyone who is against him has also been in bed together at some point – including Peter Obi. At one time, he was in the PDP.”

The former lawmaker said he advocates a “new Nigeria”, arguing that his political track record differentiates him from other prominent politicians because he has never been a member of a ruling political party.

“Tell me a politician who has never been a member of the ruling party. I am that person. Have I ever been in the ruling party?” he asked.

Baba-Ahmed explained that although he was previously a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), he left the party before joining another opposition party which led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also commented on the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s record in the United States, questioning the decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lead criticism of the President over the matter.

Baba-Ahmed asked why Atiku was “at the forefront in tormenting” Tinubu over his record, even though he described the former deputy president as previously silent on the issue.

He said Tinubu had been given the opportunity to lead the country but should not extend his term.

Baba-Ahmed also accused the President of weakening Nigeria’s political parties, and said his administration had contributed to the destruction of the country’s political structure.

“All he did in three years was destroy political parties,” he said.

The former LP vice presidential candidate added that Tinubu had “qualified for divine intervention”.