‘Step Aside, Let Nigeria Breathe’ – Baba-Ahmed Tells Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has made a bold call for Nigeria’s political heavyweights to bow out ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the country deserves a break from leaders who have held sway for decades.

In an interview with Trust TV, Baba-Ahmed urged President Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso to step aside and give way to a new generation of leaders.

“These men have had their time,” he said. “They’ve played their roles, but there’s nothing left for them to offer. They should allow fresh, energetic minds to take Nigeria forward.”

He didn’t mince words, accusing the current political elite of recycling old ideas while clinging to power at the expense of national progress.

“We’re stuck in a cycle of bitter, winner-takes-all politics. It’s always about power, not service. And once in office, most of them lack the drive to actually govern,” Baba-Ahmed said.

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He questioned whether the current set of leaders, some of whom have been prominent since the late ‘90s, could still deliver meaningful change.

“Let’s be honest—so long as any of these usual suspects is in the race, the rest won’t step down. Their commitment to the nation doesn’t go that far. They’ve had 20, 30 years in the spotlight. What more can they do?” he asked.

He also took aim at the belief that every president must serve two terms, describing it as harmful and rooted more in ethnic politics than performance.

“Where did this idea come from—that once you become president, you must spend eight years, even if you’re failing?” he said. “We opposed Buhari’s second term when it was clear he had nothing more to offer. We were right. Yet today, it’s all about balancing North and South, even if the country suffers for it.”

Baba-Ahmed said this mindset is part of what’s dragging Nigeria backward.

“Even if a leader is clearly struggling—health-wise, mentally, or politically—we insist they stay on, just to satisfy regional expectations. That’s not leadership. That’s just dangerous sentiment,” he added.

He concluded by calling for a national rethink: “Nigeria needs fresh leadership, new energy, and bold ideas—not recycled politicians chasing legacy or payback. It’s time for a reset.”