Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has urged three prominent Nigerian politicians to refrain from contesting in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on AIT's Focus Nigeria program on Monday, Baba-Ahmed specifically named former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as individuals who should step aside from presidential ambitions.
Call for New Leadership
Baba-Ahmed emphasized that Atiku, who has previously contested for the presidency multiple times, should transition to a mentorship role rather than seeking office again.
"If you have a very prominent member of PDP as Vice President for eight years, he competed three times – Atiku, a highly respected person – with due respect, I think he should be a hero of democracy," Baba-Ahmed stated.
"I don't think he should aspire to lead this country, I think he should be a father figure. He should be involved in the building of an alternative to APC but he should bring in new blood, perspective, and people and say the figure belongs to you, we will stand behind you," he added.
The former presidential adviser extended similar advice to Amaechi and El-Rufai, suggesting they should make way for fresh candidates in the next electoral cycle.
Age and Previous Attempts
Baba-Ahmed particularly highlighted Atiku's age and previous unsuccessful presidential bids as reasons for the former Vice President to reconsider his political ambitions.
"If you have contested for the presidency three times, you didn't get it and you are approaching 80, for goodness sake, something should tell you that it's time to be a father figure," he remarked.
The political analyst expressed his belief that Atiku might be willing to step aside under certain conditions: "My gut feeling is that Atiku will say I will call it quit as far as aspiring to be president is concerned but I have a condition, we want younger people, more energetic people not people who have been so exposed to power that can't leave outside power."
Warning About Power
Concluding his remarks, Baba-Ahmed warned about the consequences of electing politicians who have become overly accustomed to power.
"If you give those people power, they are just going to be like Tinubu's government," he cautioned, suggesting that Nigeria needs fresh leadership perspectives for the future.
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