Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has sharply criticised Nigeria’s opposition leaders, describing Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar as “office seekers” rather than genuine opposition figures.
He has taken aim at Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, describing them as politicians driven by the pursuit of office rather than the responsibilities of genuine opposition leaders.
Truth Live News Media reports that he said it while speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics.
Baba-Ahmed questioned the quality of opposition response to worsening insecurity in the country.
“No, it’s not enough that they are tweeting about it, that’s child’s play. They are not opposition members, they are office seekers,” he said.
According to him, true opposition leaders should be present in affected communities and engage directly with the people, instead of limiting their response to public statements or social media posts.
“Before he (Tinubu) went to the UK, there were two deadly bomb blasts in Borno. Tell me, in all these opposition leaders, who has led us to go and walk on the streets of Maiduguri?” he asked.
Drawing on examples from the height of the insurgency, he noted that national leaders travelled to Maiduguri to engage with affected residents, describing those actions as evidence of stronger leadership and accountability.
Baba-Ahmed also singled out former Rivers State governor and ex-minister, Rotimi Amaechi, as an exception within the opposition.
“There is an outlier among them… if I have my way, Amaechi is an excellent material,” he said.
He further recalled past disagreements with Obi over political alignment and strategy, saying he had advised different political directions.
His remarks add to ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition bloc ahead of the 2027 political cycle.