Baba-Ahmed Says Tinubu Let Down Nigerians on Economy and Security

The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said President Bola Tinubu’s government is making things worse for Nigerians in terms of economy and security. He believes Nigerians have not seen any real benefits from the government's policies.

Mr Baba-Ahmed mentioned that many children cannot go to school because of insecurity. Dangerous roads and the rising cost of living also make life tough for Nigerians.

He spoke on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. There, he criticized the government’s performance after three and a half years in power.

“Children who live in territories taken by bandits and kidnappers can’t go to school at all,” he said.

The PRP chairman also questioned the government’s economic performance. He argued that official statistics do not show the real struggles Nigerians face in their daily lives.

“Children aren’t going to school; life is more insecure; life is harder. He flashed all the statistics. How can we build an economy?” he asked.

Mr Baba-Ahmed criticized the slow pace of road construction. He pointed out the Abuja-Kaduna highway as an example where drivers still face security threats.

He said the government should have done more with the money it makes from oil to build better infrastructure.

Mr Baba-Ahmed, who was a special adviser on political matters to Vice President Kashim Shettima, also criticized Mr Tinubu’s reported choice to limit his participation in campaign rallies for the 2027 general election. He believes the president should be the one talking to voters about his administration’s record.

He said the president seems to depend on other political figures to campaign for his re-election instead of directly communicating with Nigerians about his policies.

“He had nothing to say to them; he had nothing to say to Nigerians, which is why he says, ‘Okay, gentlemen, go and campaign for me. I will stay in Abuja and run the country,’” he said.

“You run the country now? Three and a half years, you didn’t run this country. Now you remember that you have to run a country?”

The PRP chairman further questioned the government’s track record on governance. He said the administration has not done enough to tackle the issues facing the country.

He also highlighted how important a national census is, calling it a key tool for planning and understanding the country’s population strengths and weaknesses.

Mr Baba-Ahmed believes Mr Tinubu will find it hard to win the 2027 presidential election. He thinks the election outcome will depend on how credible the electoral process is.

He warned that a flawed election could threaten Nigeria’s unity, especially if voters feel their choices are ignored.

He said the government and electoral authorities must make sure that people in areas affected by banditry and kidnapping can vote.

According to him, insecurity could stop millions of Nigerians from voting, particularly in northern Nigeria, where armed groups limit movement and disrupt daily life.

He also cautioned that wealthy political interests might use their money to rally large numbers of voters, raising worries about money’s influence on the electoral process.

Mr Baba-Ahmed recognized that claims of electoral malpractice are not unique to Nigeria. But he insisted that authorities must act to stop manipulation and reduce its effects on election results.

He said announcing results is a critical part of the electoral process. Only officials authorized by law should declare a winner.

The PRP chairman also took aim at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he sees as poor communication with Nigerians.

Responding to the commission chairman’s comments about declaring election results, Mr Baba-Ahmed said the law clearly states who can announce winners.

He agreed that no one can declare a candidate the winner of an election without legal authority.

However, he said INEC must do a better job of communicating with the public and explaining its role in announcing results to avoid confusion.

Mr Baba-Ahmed, who once worked as INEC secretary, also expressed worries that political actors might try to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 election.

“I’m worried because if they lose, I hope they don’t try to make or turn falsehood into truth. That’s what I’m worried about,” he said.