Daily Justice

Kaduna, Nigeria – 20 April 2025
Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has declared that the northern region will play a pivotal role in determining Nigeria’s next president in the 2027 general elections. Speaking in a video interview alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Baba-Ahmed asserted that no candidate could secure the presidency without the North’s backing.

“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” Baba-Ahmed said during the interview, obtained by Daily Trust in Kaduna.

Baba-Ahmed’s remarks have sparked debate, with critics arguing that his focus on the North perpetuates a divisive narrative. Some Nigerians have expressed frustration, noting that northern leaders often prioritise regional interests over national unity. “Before an average Northerner finishes a half sentence, he must have mentioned ‘North’ three times,” one commentator remarked, questioning the absence of a broader nationalist perspective from northern leaders.

The former adviser lamented the state of the nation, urging northerners to resist manipulative politicians ahead of 2027. “We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” he asked.

Reflecting on the North’s historical challenges, Baba-Ahmed recalled the Boko Haram insurgency that devastated the region, affecting Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Baju, and others alike. “Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect northerners to fall in line,” he said.

He warned against further marginalisation of the North, cautioning that continued disregard could destabilise the country. “If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching. Elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he stated.

Baba-Ahmed also called for a shift away from identity politics, urging voters to prioritise competence and integrity over religion or ethnicity. “We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want a right leader – let him fall from heaven, we just want someone who will solve our problems,” he said.

However, his emphasis on the North’s electoral influence has drawn criticism. Some argue that it overlooks the need for inclusivity across Nigeria’s diverse regions. “Dr Hakeem is supposed to be one of the most educated northerners, but look how he talks, North, North, North,” a critic remarked. “How about saying that ‘no candidate can win without all Nigerians’?”

Others have pointed out the North’s significant representation in Nigeria’s leadership since independence, questioning the region’s complaints given its historical dominance. “If the North is complaining after producing Nigerian leaders more than any other section of Nigeria, what would a region like the South East do?” another observer noted.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, Baba-Ahmed’s comments underscore the complex interplay of regional dynamics and national aspirations. With the northern electorate poised to wield significant influence, the call for unity and competence in leadership remains a pressing concern for all Nigerians.