Your Time in Office Fell Short of Expectations, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Lampoons Tinubu

Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Vice President Kashim Shettima who resigned recently, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has spoken about his time in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as disappointing and largely ineffective.

In a revealing interview on Arise TV, Baba-Ahmed said his expectations were not met and called for a generational shift in Nigeria’s leadership by 2027.

Reflecting on his time with the administration, Baba-Ahmed stated, “It was good on paper but not in practice. It fell far short of my expectations.” He revealed that throughout his 18-month stint in the Villa, he only encountered President Tinubu three times—and only briefly at the mosque. “I never had the chance to sit down and talk with President Tinubu,” he lamented.

He described the President as “isolated,” citing a lack of meaningful interaction with key advisers as a major governance flaw. “He ought to be available for the people he trusted to work with him. That isolation is not just a personal issue—it’s a problem for the country.”

Baba-Ahmed was especially critical of the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” dismissing it as a vague collection of campaign slogans lacking strategic substance. He argued that many ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet were unqualified for their roles.

“More than half of the ministers have no business being in governance. They lack the capacity to manage reforms, improve security, restore livelihoods, or rebuild public trust,” he said.

He described the inner workings of the administration as directionless, noting that decision-making lacked clarity and that real power was concentrated among a few, further deepening the President’s disconnect from the public.

Baba-Ahmed emphasized that Nigerians are growing increasingly hopeless, as insecurity, poverty, and inflation worsen. “We work in the Villa and we go home and meet the people. Nigerians are desperate. They are asking: what is the value of this democracy? What is the point of voting if this is the result?”

His comments echo rising public frustration as the Tinubu administration continues to face economic and security challenges despite policy reforms and budgetary adjustments.

In addition to his TV appearance, Baba-Ahmed recently published an open letter urging President Tinubu not to run for a second term in 2027. He called for a peaceful handover to a new generation of leaders with fresh energy and a commitment to inclusive governance.

“You can set in motion a historic transition. Step aside—not for your political opponents, but for Nigeria,” he wrote. “Watch 2027, yes—but don’t be consumed by it. Focus on your legacy, and use your power to ease the suffering of the people.”

Baba-Ahmed’s remarks have sparked renewed national debate over the performance and direction of Tinubu’s administration. While some view his comments as a courageous call for reform and accountability, others see it as a sign of deepening fractures within the ruling elite.

The Arise TV interview and open letter come as Nigeria continues to struggle with rising insecurity, economic instability, and widespread public discontent—factors likely to define the political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections.