Former political adviser to President Bola Tinubu and ex-spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has delivered a scathing critique of the current Nigerian administration, arguing that it is failing to improve the quality of life for Nigerians and the overall standard of governance.
Speaking on Channels Television's Political Paradigm programme, Baba-Ahmed stated that the Tinubu government has not lived up to expectations of radically improving governance compared to the previous Buhari administration.
Concerns Over Subsidy Removal and Resource Management
Baba-Ahmed emphasized the removal of the petrol subsidy as a legitimate concern affecting Nigeria's living standards. While acknowledging that subsidy removal may be an unenviable policy, he insisted President Tinubu should be vigilant about the "wastage of resources" at state and local government levels.
"There is so much waste, so much abuse of resources and corruption," Baba-Ahmed remarked. He stressed the importance of the president focusing on infrastructure, social development, and ensuring that resources allocated to governors, particularly those from the ruling APC, are used properly.
He further urged the president to make sure "in his position as the president that governors have used the money... judiciously."
Historical Perspective on Nigerian Leadership
Reflecting on Nigeria's political experience since 1999, Baba-Ahmed offered a harsh assessment of successive governments, claiming that each new administration has performed worse than its predecessor.
"Since 1999, every leadership that has taken over has been worse than the previous one," he stated. While expressing some appreciation for the early years of Olusegun Obasanjo's presidency, he criticized subsequent leaders.
"President (Umaru) Yar'adua came into power and we had some kind of fresh air... (President Goodluck) Jonathan took over and ran the country aground... Jonathan governed badly; President Buhari didn't govern at all," Baba-Ahmed remarked.
Economic Indicators vs. Citizens' Reality
Baba-Ahmed described the current administration as starting "on a faulty foot" and failing to deliver on promises despite favorable international economic ratings. He emphasized that governance should be measured primarily by citizens' living conditions.
"They will tell you they are doing great with all the World Bank statistics, all the international ratings and everything, but that's not only the measures you measure a government; you measure by the way citizens live," he explained.
Root of Nigeria's Leadership Problem
According to Baba-Ahmed, Nigeria's leadership problem stems from selfish leaders who govern for personal interests rather than the people's welfare.
"Nigeria's leadership problem is a problem of those who have aspired to lead, who have had the opportunity to lead power and they have governed in their interest rather in the interest of the people who voted for them," he said.
"If you have this kind of people as leaders, put them in the best country, if the leaders have this kind of values, they will do exactly what they are doing now."
Overall, Baba-Ahmed's critique centers on the Tinubu administration's failure to translate economic reforms, like subsidy removal, into tangible improvements in Nigerians' daily lives and governance quality, calling for urgent reforms in accountability, anti-corruption, and social investment.
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