Suspended gov’s push for survival

Since March 18, 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency, there has been relative peace in Rivers State.

The eventual suspension of Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Ordu, and the entire Legislative Arm of government is the biggest setback that may likely affect the economy and other social fabrics of the state.

For close to two months, Fubara has been stripped of the paraphernalia of office as governor elected by his people in 2023.

Having understood what it means to stay inactive without political power for this long, the suspended governor has chosen to go full throttle to seek for genuine peace with his mentor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

It was reported that on April 18, Fubara came down from his high horse and went to meet Wike in his Abuja residence to ask for forgiveness.

Why the suspended governor chose to meet with the Minister in the company of some respected Yoruba political leaders like Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and former Governor Segun Osoba, among others, other than the elders in Rivers State, is relatively understandable.

The FCT Minister believes that some of the elders in Rivers State were those stoking the embers of crisis between him and Fubara.

Political problems

These elders, nearly all of them, had political problems with Wike in 2023 because of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the run-up to the general elections.

After the PDP presidential congress, where Atiku emerged as the favorite to confront the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike felt betrayed and refused to support Atiku.

A time was also when Wike thought he could be compensated with the running mate slot, again, PDP backtracked and went for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, then governor of Delta State.

Okowa has since defected to the APC he contested against as the PDP vice presidential candidate.

Recall that the Atiku supporters had all abandoned Rivers and relocated to Abuja to give support to his dream of becoming the next President.

Wike was the man alone at home showcasing Fubara in the campaigns to become governor.

Some of the Atiku supporters openly condemned the choice of Fubara as governor, wondering what political sense Wike was mooting to play up a political neophyte as the next governor of a sensitive state like Rivers.

While Wike attempted to calibrate his political structure in support of Tinubu of APC, the likes of Prince Uche Secondus, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, Sir Celestine Omehia, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Senator Lee Meaba and Tele Ikuru, among others, formed a formidable political bloc against Wike in the state.

But when the table turned and Wike became the FCT Minister and relocated to Abuja, these elders took the reverse flight back to Port Harcourt and suddenly began to give Fubara the energy to stand up to a man who made him governor against all odds.

This set of politicians formed what looked like an iron cast structure for Fubara with a deliberate design to castigated Wike in the war against then governor.

This same bloc of politicians was alleged to have asked the governor to have a rethink in his implementation of the 8-point peace agreement initiated by President Tinubu. This presidential move could have, according to some analysts, ushered peace into the state a long time ago.

Nevertheless, in his wisdom, Fubara has come to clearly realize that only genuine peace devoid of intrigues can resolve the lingering political tension in Rivers.

This explains why he has chosen to walk the path of peace alone without the involvement of the Rivers elders.

Undoubtedly, the suspended governor has seen that Wike has what it takes to take the fight to its conclusion which was initiated to end in impeachment but the intervention of the president with the tool of state of emergency to stop what would have been the end of Fubara’s political career.

Wike has the financial war-chest. He enjoys the backing of Tinubu. He is a master strategist in all forms and shapes.
Dealing with a man of this political caliber would only call for wisdom and that is exactly what Fubara chose to do even if it meant standing alone.

In his last media chat in Abuja, Wike had made it clear that if Fubara should genuinely apologize to him, he would let go. A fortnight ago, the governor made a trip to London enroute Frankfurt, Germany where he met with the president in a closed door meeting.

Details

The details of their discussion in that meeting were not divulged but close sources believe that it was the prelude to a symbiotic agreement for the betterment of Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 while Fubara returns as governor.

Having met with the president, Fubara never rested on his oars.

He went on a remorseful visit to Wike to let him know how sorry he was and begged for forgiveness.
It is not clear what lies in the offing after the two high stake meetings.

But Nigerians are of the opinion that having shown sufficient regrets for his actions or inactions, Fubara deserves to be reinstated.

There are speculations that Tinubu, who is alleged to be under intense pressure by prominent Nigerians, may reinstate the suspended governor by May 29. “Everything is in the realm of speculations”, said Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives.

“I think as a democrat, the president should use the May 29, which is a big day in our country’s political history, to convince the whole world that he is indeed a true democrat by reinstating Governor Fubara , his deputy and the House of Assembly”.

On her part, Ann Kio Briggs, spokesperson for Ijaw Republican Assembly, IRA, believes that reinstatement of Fubara on May 29 would make more sense to the people of the state.

“He has to be reinstated on May 29, being Democracy Day, so that the governor can join his colleague governors to celebrate his second year in office”.

Briggs explained that the entire Rivers people will appreciate Tinubu if he could “bring back our governor on May 29. That is our Democracy Day. It will bring a lot of succor to the people of the state who have suffered as a result of the crisis in the past two years”.

History

Corroborating the IRA’s spokesperson, the President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said Tinubu would make history if he reinstates Fubara on May 29 as with stringent lines drawn to demarcate power play between the two warring factions.
“Fubara’s visits to the President and Wike are welcome developments. The president can make history by returning Fubara earlier than expected”, he said.

“Besides, he should make himself the president of all Nigerians, not to a particular person. Let the Minister mind his job in Abuja and allow the Rivers people to enjoy the governor they voted for.

“I am not interested whether Fubara wants to defect to APC or not. After all, our politicians do not have ideology. And the country is cascading to a one party state. “What we want is his return to power for the interest of Rivers people”.

For Dr. Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, SSRG, “Fubara has shown that he is a man of peace. He has shown enough remorse and deserves to return to his duty post.

“The stakes are high. Expectations are also high. Nigerians are eagerly waiting to hear what Mr. President will have to tell us on Democracy Day.

“I know that the president won’t disappoint. Our prayer is that Fubara should be returned to power. I was privileged to meet with him recently in Port Harcourt and I saw a man who was ready to do anything for the sake of peace”.

More than anything else, what is more worrisome to the Rivers people is the terms of agreement between the FCT Minister and the suspended governor for the return of peace in the state and his subsequent return to power.

There are speculations that appointment of commissioners must be shared in a formula that will give the Abuja bloc a comfortable stand.

This same formula will apply to the appointment of all offices when normal democratic institutions are restored.
For local government elections which were earlier scheduled to be conducted on August 9, “the Minister’s interest will be highly protected”, a source privy to the arrangement hinted.

“The template has been set already. There is a change in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC.

“Interested contestants would be selected, it does not matter which political parties they belong. They will be there to serve the interest of those who nominated them”.

How then will Fubara’s second coming to office look like? Is he going to be a puppet governor who will dance whenever the string is pulled from outside the state?

What will be the political fate of the Atiku supporters (elders) when normalcy returns and Fubara returns to the saddle? All eyes are on May 29 while Nigerians sit on edge.

The Obedient Movement in Delta State has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot win any free and fair election in Nigeria, citing the party’s poor national track record and growing public discontent.

Speaking at a press conference held over the weekend in Asaba, Chairman of the Delta Obedients Elders Council, Chief Chris Boise, dismissed the recent defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members into the APC in the state, saying the move would not affect the political dynamics in Delta.

His words: “We are not bothered one bit about the fusion of PDP elements into APC.

“Their justification that this defection would foster development is hollow when viewed against APC’s abysmal governance at the national level over the past decade.”

Boise referenced the 2023 presidential election to reinforce his point, noting that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi secured a decisive lead in Delta State, winning 341,866 votes compared to Atiku Abubakar’s 161,600 and Bola Tinubu’s 90,183 votes.

He accused the APC-led federal government of dragging Nigeria into economic collapse and heightening insecurity, describing the current administration as one sustained not by performance or popular support, but by a “narrow elite” bent on consolidating power.Nigerian political art prints

“Since the APC took over in May 2015, the country has experienced a surge in insecurity, especially from armed Fulani herders, whose activities have devastated farming communities across Nigeria,” he said.

Chief Boise urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take urgent steps to bolster local security by empowering community vigilantes to defend citizens from further attacks by armed invaders.

According to the World Bank's April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief, poverty among Nigeria's rural population has reached a critical 75.5%, underscoring growing inequality across the country. This rate is nearly double the urban poverty rate of 41.3%.

The report reveals that overall poverty in Nigeria continues to display stark regional disparities. Northern geopolitical zones recorded a 46.5% poverty rate in 2018/19, compared to just 13.5% in southern regions. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 30.9% of Nigerians lived below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day.

Economic circumstances have deteriorated since then, with World Bank projections estimating that by 2024, over 54% of Nigerians would be living in poverty. The report attributes this to multiple factors including economic shocks, rising insecurity, and persistent inflation.

The crisis disproportionately affects certain demographic groups. Children aged 0-14 face a 72.5% poverty rate, while adults without formal education experience a 79.5% poverty rate. Even those with secondary education show a 50% poverty rate, compared to 25.4% for those with tertiary education.

Multidimensional poverty indicators further illustrate the challenges: 32.6% lack access to limited-standard drinking water, 45.1% don't have limited-standard sanitation, and 39.4% have no electricity access.

The World Bank notes that poverty reduction had nearly stagnated before the pandemic, declining by only half a percentage point annually since 2010. This slow progress is attributed to structural economic challenges, particularly Nigeria's continued dependence on oil and vulnerability to climate shocks affecting agriculture.

Since 2018/19, an estimated 42 million additional Nigerians have fallen into poverty. Recent macroeconomic reforms have begun stabilizing the economy, but high inflation continues to erode purchasing power, with labor incomes failing to keep pace with rising costs.

The World Bank recommends urgent reforms to protect the poorest from inflation and boost livelihoods through productive employment. While acknowledging government efforts like temporary cash transfers targeting 15 million households, the report emphasizes the need for stronger social protection systems, investments in education, health, and infrastructure, and economic diversification beyond the oil sector.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has denied reports that he is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recently, there were reports that Kyari and several other top NNPCL officials—who were recently removed from their positions—were being questioned over alleged misuse of funds and abuse of office. One report even claimed Kyari had been taken into EFCC custody on Friday and might spend the weekend there.

The EFCC has not officially responded to the claims. However, a letter believed to be from the anti-corruption agency has surfaced online. In the letter addressed to Bayo Ojulari, the new head of NNPCL, the EFCC requested certified true copies of payment records and benefits of 14 senior officials. This includes those who have already retired.

Those listed in the letter are: Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, Mustapha Magaji Sugungun, Mele Kolo Kyari, Kayode Olusegun Adetokunbo, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Efiok Michael Akpan, Umar Ajiya, Babatunde Bakare, Dikko Ahmed, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Ibrahim Onoja, Bello Kankaya, Ademoye Adeniyi Jelli, and Desmond Inyama.

In response to the reports, Kyari issued a statement on his verified X handle on Saturday night to clarify the situation.

His words: I served not only my country but also God. I am happy to account for my stewardship.

Over the past few days and in particular in the past 2 hours, I have been inundated with calls from concerned family and friends over claims by an online newspaper that I was in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

This is clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, which only them know.

At present, I am taking a well-deserved rest after the dissolution of the management and board of the NNPCL, of which I was the Group Chief Executive.

It should be stated that having served the NNPC and the NNPCL for 34 years, and 17 of those in management roles and especially the last 5 years and 9 months, I had little time for leave of even two weeks. So, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve under their Excellencies Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

I must emphasize that I served with the fear of God knowing fully well as a Muslim that if I do not account before man, I will account before Allah, and that I am better off accounting to the institutions of man. Therefore, having served in public capacity, I am willing and happy to account for my stewardship in this world.

However, it is important to state that the resort to disinformation does not serve anyones purpose, the NNPCL or the country in general, as it has the potential to send the wrong signals to investors and the international community.

It is in this regard that I urge the media to be circumspect and avoid being stampeded into misleading the public on unverified stories or matters that are subject of further validation by relevant organizations.

I sincerely thank my family and friends who have reached out to me or tried to do so and assure them that I am available to respond to all lawful queries.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that the Minister of Works, David Umahi has done more for the people of the Southeast region than political leaders like Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The apex socio-political Igbo group said it was committed to the progress of the Southeast region and would be throwing its support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Ohanaeze said this declaration is in alignment with the vision and leadership prowess showcased by Umahi who the group described as its newly appointed Igbo National Political Leader.

In a statement signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Thompson Ohia, the Deputy President General and the National Spokesperson of the group respectively, Ohanaeze said it has reviewed the contributions made by various leaders from the region.

According to the group, its findings show that Umahi tops the list of Igbo leaders who are committed to the development of the region and the welfare of the people of Southeast.

The statement said, “The findings from this comprehensive analysis present an irrefutable case that Senator Dave Umahi’s leadership distinguishes itself above all others, particularly in contrast to Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Hope Uzodinma.”

The group added that while they respect the contributions made by other leaders including Obi and Uzodimma, that of Umahi is second to none.

The statement added, “As the Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, he effectively negotiated significant upgrades with the Federal Government, such as the enhancement of the Francis Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, transitioning it to full international operational status complete with cutting-edge facilities.

“Additionally, he championed the establishment of a second international airport in Abakaliki, thereby amplifying the region’s connectivity,” it added.

It also said that Umahi’s 21 months of service as Minister has been quite impactful, especially in his “revolutionary” infrastructural projects in the region among many other feats.

“As President Tinubu approaches the two-year milestone of his presidency on May 29, 2027, Ohanaeze Ndigbo conveys our unwavering assurance that Senator Dave Umahi is the singular, trusted political leader of the Southeast, endowed with the mandate to enhance our collective voice in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027,” the statement said.

Nigeria on Saturday paid its final respects to Pa Samuel Ayo Adebanjo, the late elder statesman, nationalist, and leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in a ceremony marked by glowing tributes, national reflection, and calls for purposeful leadership. The funeral, held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Isanya-Ogbo, Ijebu, Ogun State, drew an assembly of prominent Nigerian political figures, clerics, and civil society leaders.

Among the dignitaries present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Also in attendance were former Ogun governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso, NADECO leader Ayo Opadokun, and several senators, including Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Femi Okurounmu, and Adegbenga Kaka.

The remains of the late Adebanjo, described as one of the last disciples of Obafemi Awolowo, were laid to rest at his residence in Odoogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State, at approximately 1:54 p.m.

A Life of Purpose and Principle

In his sermon themed “The Glory of a Purposeful Life,” Olusina Fape, the Bishop of the Diocese of Remo and Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, hailed Adebanjo as a “progressive democrat par excellence” who lived with conviction and consistency, unlike many contemporary politicians he described as “chameleons” who jump between parties without clear ideology.

Fape emphasized that Adebanjo’s political career—from the Action Group to the Alliance for Democracy—was defined by loyalty to principle rather than opportunism. He lamented that the passing of ideologically grounded figures like Adebanjo and Awolowo could deepen the emergence of political parties without clear philosophical foundations.

“He never compromised his beliefs for political gain. His life reflected the ideals of honesty, integrity, and fearless commitment to truth and justice.”

Fape warned that many modern politicians lacked purpose, seeking only power and wealth, and called for a generational reassessment of political motives. Quoting Myles Munroe, he said, “When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse becomes inevitable.” He charged Nigerians to reflect on whether their lives would be remembered for meaning and service.

A Voice for Justice and Federalism

In his tribute, Governor Dapo Abiodun described Adebanjo as a “dogged crusader for true federalism” and a symbol of Yoruba resistance to marginalization and cultural erosion. He said Adebanjo’s fierce opposition to military rule, his activism during the June 12 crisis, and his enduring support for democratic ideals made him a “moral compass” in Nigeria’s turbulent political history.

“Chief Adebanjo stood as a firm advocate of justice, fairness, and the rule of law. He was never silent in the face of injustice and nepotism,” Abiodun said.

The governor also likened Adebanjo’s philosophy to that of Martin Luther King Jr., saying the late leader believed deeply in the principle that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

A National Icon, a Federalist to the End

In a condolence message read during the service, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar described Adebanjo as “a great federalist, a reliable and consistent fighter for democracy,” noting that his life’s work should serve as a model for current and future generations.

Abubakar acknowledged that the void left by Adebanjo’s passing would be hard to fill but urged Nigerians to hold firmly to the principles the late icon embodied.

The funeral of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, though marking the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political journey, served as a stirring reminder of the power of purposeful leadership, ideological consistency, and unwavering dedication to national unity.

Over 300 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.

The politicians defected from the parties’ wards in Kawo, Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Jamilu Haruna, the Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) described the move by the defectors as an indication that the State governor, Uba Sani has performed well.

Haruna who spoke at a reception for the defectors said that within two years since he assumed office, the governor has exceeded the expectations of the people of the state.

“This defection is not a surprise to us because all the genuine members of the opposition have seen the giant strides of Governor Uba Sani in security improvements, educational development, food security and overall well-being of the citizens.

“These achievements have stood our Governor our even among his colleagues and endeared him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is a clear indication that, Kaduna stands to benefit more from the Federal Government for the overall benefit of the citizens,” Haruna noted.

He also welcomed the defectors to the ruling party while assuring them of mutual respect and possible opportunities that would help them thrive in their political careers.

Also speaking, the leader of the defectors, Usman Muhammad who was the Kaduna Central Senatorial Aspirant of the PDP confirmed that he led a total of 225 politicians from the party to APC.

He said they joined the ruling party over their conviction of the inclusive leadership style showcased by the governor.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has blamed Siminalayi Fubara for the walkout on First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s empowerment programme.

The minister described the incident as “disturbing and embarrassing”. 

On Friday, a group of women walked out of a Renewed Hope Initiative event in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, while demanding the reinstatement of Fubara, suspended governor of the state.  

The event was part of an initiative to support 500 women across the state.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Lere Olayinka, his senior special assistant on public communications and social media, Wike condemned the walkout and apologised to President Bola Tinubu and the first lady.

‘INSULT ON THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT’

“Insult on anyone representing the first lady of Nigeria in an event is a direct insult on the office of the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria,” Wike said.

“As a leader in Rivers state, I apologise.” 

The former governor, who is currently in China on an official engagement, implored Fubara’s supporters to stop soiling the image of the state.

Wike accused the governor of double-speak, urging him to be sincere in his engagements with the presidency.

In April, Fubara reportedly met with Tinubu in London over the protracted political crisis that culminated in his suspension.

“It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace. Those who genuinely want peace work and act for it,” Wike added.

“These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.

“How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the president and his wife?

“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up-and-down pleadings for peace.”

Wike said he and his supporters “condemn” the protest “in totality”.

“We apologise to our first lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not reflect the values and ideals of Rivers state,” he added.

BACKGROUND

On March 18, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the prolonged political crisis.

He also suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

The president appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.

After his appointment, Ibas suspended all political officeholders appointed by Fubara.

The Rivers governor returned to the country from a two-week vacation on Friday.

Senegalese-American singer, Akon has revealed that he played a key role in the career success of Nigerian international Afrobeats star Wizkid.

He claimed that the Starboy crooner was just a local musician before he signed him to his record label in 2008 and brushed him up.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Bagfuel Brigade podcast, Akon also claimed that Afrobeats wouldn’t have been what it is today without him developing some artists in Nigeria and opening bigger markets for them in the late 2000s to 2010s.

“In 2008, I spent my time in Nigeria developing what you see today as Afrobeats. And all of them can attest to it,” he said.

“Wizkid was the first [Nigerian] artist we signed officially at that time. And then we went on to sign a group called P-Square, which was the first [Nigerian] group that made it internationally.

“Wizkid was just the local Nigerian star before we touched him and it opened up to a bigger market. I wouldn’t want to take credit for all of it but I can tell you that if we didn’t do what we did, Afrobeats would still have been in the same position it was when we got there [Nigeria in 2008]. That I can tell you 100 per cent.

“I brought the business side of music to Afrobeats because all they [Nigerian artists at that time] knew about was the creative [side of music]. There was no business, no infrastructure, none of it attached to it.”

Former special adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has alleged that the Nigerian economy is worse under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu than during his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

He made the claim in this interview aired on Channels TV programme, Politics Today on Thursday, where he spoke on his open letter to President Tinubu in which he asked him not to contest in 2027, why he stepped down from the administration, and political defections rocking the country.

Baba-Ahmed served for 17 months before resigning.

Tinubu’s assumption of office since May 29, 2023, has seen bold economic reforms such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira.

At that time, Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 22.41%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, inflation surged to an alarming 34.6% by November 2024, a rise many economists attribute to the president’s controversial policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of the country’s foreign exchange rates.

“It is worse than Buhari left it,” Baba-Ahmed said while commenting on the state of the economy.

On recent economic growth rate statistics by top world organisations, he said, “This is the thing with the statistics that the administration keeps reeling out. And you really wonder where they get the statistics from. You go to villages, go to Kastina, go to Zamfara, go to Niger State, go to Plateau, go to Benue, virtually, in fact literally, go to every part of Nigeria.

“More blood is shed now than it was maybe two years ago. And yet you see this kind of statistics that say there are fewer killings, there is less violence. You have to ask, do our leaders actually know how our people live? Who is telling them all this? How do these statistics get acquired? Because if you want to really measure how people live, you do not do that by just some statistics that someone gives you. Do the president’s people really tell him the state of the country? Does he know? Does he know the level of poverty? Does he know how many families, entire families, live in that village?”

Baba-Ahmed said he had hoped President Tinubu’s administration as president would bring economic development, given his role as former Lagos State governor who had also tasted poverty.

“I saw a president who was stubborn, almost visionary, but he ran Lagos for eight years. Whether he ran it well or not, I do not know. But he ran Lagos well. He resisted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s overbearing and strong determination to get rid of him. Beyond that, I saw him as a calculating politician. He gave his platform to Atiku. He gave his platform to Nuhuru Ribadu. He participated actively. Then he agreed with Buhari, created a platform which allowed Buhari to become president. Because for 2003, 2007, 2011, Buhari was running, he did not get anywhere.”

He said Tinubu had played a major role in the election of former president Buhari.

“To be honest with you, I think that coalition, CPC-APC-AC, was decisive in terms of giving President Buhari victory. And as I said, I was part of the campaign. I had a front-line seat, so I know what I am talking about. And Tinubu’s contribution to Buhari’s emergence was genuinely a deciding factor. So in many ways, you have to give him credit for being a calculating president. I do not know what has happened since 2015, but I do not see the fire. I do not see that calculation. I did not see much of him, to be fair to him.”

He alleged that although selected a political adviser in the current administration, he was not pleased with the role, and had to resign. He reinstated his advice to Tinubu not to re-contest the position come 2027.

“To be honest, Vice President Kashim Shettima. But he had to get the consent of the president before I became an adviser. I mean, the vice president facilitated my appointment, and the president approved it. So, I would say President Tinubu approved my appointment. Otherwise, I would never have been an adviser.

“No, I did not do any job. I was supposed to be an adviser on political matters to the president, in the office of the vice president. You have to understand, at least in constitutional terms, it is the same thing. Basically, it is supposed to be both the vice president and I, we are both supposed to advise the president.

“There are two. There is one called Darazu. So there are two special advisers on political matters. Well, I have not met the first one either.

“I spent a year and six months there.

“To be honest, I suspect if I met the president, if I did sit down with him, I might say things to him that he might not be very happy about. I think they developed cold feet. Because if I did, I would have told him exactly what I said in that open letter: ‘Mr President, please do not run again.’

“It is not authority. I am making a request. I am not giving him instructions. I remember I said, I would have said: ‘Mr President, please do not run again.”

“And look, working for a government, especially Tinubu’s government that had inherited a really messed up country from Buhari, was the most patriotic thing anybody could do. You could not just turn your back on an administration that says: ‘come and help fix the country after the damage that you so graphically criticised’. I was one of the most vocal critics of former President Buhari. So, if a government takes over from President Buhari and says: ‘come and help fix the country,’ you could not possibly say: ‘no, I prefer to be a critic for life’. I participated very actively in Buhari’s election.

“I was chairman of his party for four years in my state, long before he became president, so I was not a critic. I became an outspoken critic: one, because my organisation had seen the situation in which the country was. A few months into the presidency of President Buhari, we could see that he was just interested in becoming president, and he was not interested in governing. Certainly, not governing well, and we started criticising him. We began by advising him privately. Then we started saying he was wrong here and he was wrong there. And then, when it became clear that he was not interested in public opinion, we became outstanding critics.

On why he advised the president not to run again in 2027, Baba-Ahmed said, “I think that first he has become a president, so that’s settled. A lot of the people who are now, including President Tinubu, quite possibly, want to be president just simply because they want to be president. We had the case of Buhari, perhaps even Atiku, whose multiple attempts at becoming president may be primarily driven by the desire to be president. If he spends the next two years of his life on the things that he ought to have done that he has not done yet or improving on what he has done.

“And then, like I said in my letter, look for a younger person, more energetic, healthier, more focused, more committed to the future of this country; find even from your party, find someone that a group of people among younger people, the kind of people who really feel the pain about what Nigeria is today. The kind of people whose children are just growing up, and they can look at them and say: ‘What will happen to my child or my grandchild in the next 20 years?’ The way this country is going downhill, consistently going downhill. There are a lot of educated, very athletic Nigerians who desperately want to be part of the future of this country. Trust them with power. You have done your bit. And so you do not need to run for another one. Spend the next two years fixing Nigeria, fix the economy as much as possible, fix insecurity.”

Baba-Ahmed argued that he had yet to see evidence that if Tinubu is voted for in 2027, the Nigerian economy would be better than it currently is.

“Well, it is not so much that he does not have the capacity. I do not know what will happen in the future. I have not seen evidence that the last two years have prepared him to continue to govern for six years, but more importantly, he does not need to be president to actually do something good for this country.

“If he draws the line at 2027 and prepares his party and the country to vote in a new set of people everywhere APC governor stands now, use your power and influence, get them to bring out younger people, a lot of people with energy, commitment, passion to fix what is broken, which is this country, history will record you as the greatest leader.”

He argued that who would end up as the next president has nothing to do with tribe.

“Let him come from anywhere. Believe me, at this stage, it is not important anymore. He could come from anywhere at this stage. Anybody who is talking to you about North and South doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”

He reiterated his stand that Tinubu should not run for the presidency come 2027.

“I never really participated much in choosing who should vote. But for the benefit of hindsight, do you think he was better than the lot that were on the ballot in 2023?

“Again, to be honest with you, I participated with Northern groups in assessing these candidates. You remember there was a time when Northern groups got together. About five or six people turned up and we asked them questions. Beyond the moment parties choose who they wanted, as far as I was concerned, my job was done. In fact, everybody’s job was done. You had to leave the whole thing to the voter. Voters decided it was Tinubu. As far as I was concerned, that is a decision made democratically. If anybody disputed it, they could go to court. I had no problems with him being legitimately elected as president. I wanted him to succeed. I want him to succeed.”

He also said he would not return to work for Tinubu’s re-election even if invited.

“He won’t. No, I won’t go back. I can’t. Come on. Not for anything. Not for anything. I have done my bit. It did not work out. I have to move on.

“It can not be in the interest of the nation if I am just going in and out. I will be like some of these politicians jumping from one party in the morning and then the next evening, they have another party. They are talking about coalitions. I want to be better than those guys.”

Asked if he regretted backing the emergence of Buhari as president, he said, “Absolutely.

But Buhari represented the North.

“If you are talking about how he became president, that is a different thing. We did not support Buhari because he was a Northerner. We supported Buhari because he was a better option than Jonathan in 2015. He was a much better option at the time. And we supported him because we could quite clearly see that Jonathan’s administration was weak. It was soft on Boko Haram. It was soft on corruption.

“It was soft on a lot of things that we believed a government that had inherited from Yar’Adua ought to have been doing. We needed a president who would hold the country together, and we saw in Bahari a better option. And we supported him, not because he was a Northerner, but because we thought he was tough on corruption. He had fought Chadians who had invaded Nigeria many years ago. He had run a country that jailed corrupt politicians for 300 years and stuff like that. We supported him, and it could have been anybody. We were just looking for a better option than Jonathan.

On Buhari’s administration he said “I have not seen eight years under a leadership that just did not govern, did not care about the priorities, did not set priorities, did not chase, did not care about how the poor lived, how secure the country was, how the young people needed to find futures. I did not see one. Therefore, I could not see myself sitting on the fence when another government that had the mandate of Nigerians to fix Buhari’s damage says, ‘please come in and help.’ It would have been irresponsible to say no.”

“With the way the Tinubu government is going, no. But regretting going in, I do not. I got out because there was no space. I did not see that fire, commitment and zeal to fix a country that has been wrecked. Instead, I saw a country getting worse.

“See the records. The one I saw was where, in 2023, Nigerians lined up, elected President Tinubu, because they thought, okay, Buhari is gone, we are in a mess, let us elect a president that would fix Nigeria. President Tinubu comes in and says, ‘Put your belts on, we are going into some turbulence’. Thus removed subsidy, and you would think a president at that stage was quite prepared to undertake such a monumental policy. It turned out he did not. He had a handful of advisers who then had to fix a problem. They started looking for solutions.

“From day one, he pushed the country to the deep end. And we have never really recovered in a way. We keep seeing promises. And the difference between what President Tinubu’s people say the country is, and the difference between that and what the country is today, is miles apart. And you have to wonder whether we are living in the same Nigeria. I think that the issue is: should one have committed to working for a government that had at least the mandate of the people to fix things, particularly in the Northern part of the country? It is unbelievable the levels of insecurity and poverty.”