Nigerians Deserve Better, Baba-Ahmed Says Tinubu Administration Has Failed to Deliver
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser and prominent public affairs commentator, has expressed deep concern over the state of governance under President Bola Tinubu, stating that the administration has so far failed to significantly improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed remarked that the current government has not met public expectations, particularly regarding governance reforms and economic relief.
“Many Nigerians had hoped that the Tinubu administration would mark a decisive shift from the leadership style of former President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said. “But those hopes are now fading. The quality of governance has not improved—if anything, it’s worsened.”
Baba-Ahmed, who previously served as the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), pointed to the impact of petrol subsidy removal as a major policy misstep that has worsened economic conditions for many citizens. While acknowledging that a reversal of the subsidy decision is unlikely, he urged the President to ensure that funds saved from the policy are transparently and efficiently managed across all levels of government.
“There’s widespread waste and misuse of public resources,” he added. “The federal government must do more to hold state and local governments accountable, especially with how revenues are spent.”
He also called on President Tinubu to prioritize tackling systemic corruption, growing insecurity, and deepening poverty. According to him, increased focus on infrastructure development and social welfare is essential, and the presidency must take responsibility for ensuring that resources allocated to state governors—particularly those from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—are used effectively.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, Baba-Ahmed expressed disillusionment with the trajectory of leadership. “Each successive administration since the return to democracy has performed worse than its predecessor,” he said.
He credited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s early years with some level of performance but noted that the attempt at a third term tainted his legacy. He praised the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as a visionary, though his tenure was tragically cut short.
“President Jonathan’s leadership was weak, and we opposed him because we believed the country deserved better,” Baba-Ahmed said. “Unfortunately, what followed was even worse. Buhari’s government, in my view, didn’t govern at all.”
He was particularly critical of the current administration’s early posture, referencing the president’s now-famous declaration: ‘Emi Lokan’ (It’s my turn). “Even if that statement is forgiven, the administration’s actual performance remains the real measure. And by that measure, things are falling short.”
Baba-Ahmed argued that the core issue in Nigeria’s political system is the self-serving nature of its leadership. “Our leaders have consistently prioritized personal and political interests over the needs of the people. Until that changes, even the best system will continue to produce poor results,” he concluded.
