adsYusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s recent outburst that Peter Obi and other presidential candidates across the political divide, except perhaps, those in his current party, lack what it takes to redeem Nigeria from its present quagmire, has brought the former Labour Party presidential running mate under serious scrutiny.
For keen observers, his outburst could be the eruption of a tightly subdued political volcano whose consequences may extend beyond Baba-Ahmed himself to the wider political class. Could this, once again, affirm that old political maxim that there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests?
Baba-Ahmed is one of the more intellectually distinctive figures to have emerged in contemporary Nigerian politics. An economist, businessman, educationist and politician, he has built a significant profile, particularly as the founder of Baze University, Abuja — a prestigious institution by virtually any parameter.
No doubt, he achieved his greatest national political prominence when, in July 2022, he was selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party alongside Peter Obi for the 2023 presidential election. The choice was politically significant. Beyond the credentials he brought to the ticket, it was expected to strengthen the Obi candidacy in Northern Nigeria, particularly among Northern Muslim voters.
