The Director of Publicity and Advocacy for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has strongly criticized Nigeria’s immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, for his dismal performance and described it as a new low in the country’s governance.
In an exclusive interview with Vanguard Newspaper, Baba-Ahmed asserted that no president in the future will be able to surpass Buhari’s abysmal track record. He stated, “The woeful performance of the former president will never be matched by any president.”
Reflecting on Buhari’s tenure, Baba-Ahmed highlighted some early achievements, such as the elimination of checkpoints, the shuffling of Service Chiefs, and the military’s relocation to Borno, which significantly curtailed the activities of Boko Haram. However, he lamented that these initial successes were overshadowed by the current state of affairs in the country.
“After eight years, we are worse off than when Buhari assumed office,” Baba-Ahmed exclaimed. Such a decline, according to him, is unprecedented, leaving the Northern Elders Forum disenchanted with the supposed positive developments promised by President Bola Tinubu.
Addressing Tinubu, the elder statesman cautioned against burdening the citizens with ill-conceived policies, reasoning that Nigerians are already burdened and fatigued. He emphasized the need for Tinubu to tackle the pressing issues of corruption, insecurity, and a failing economy with utmost care and prudence.
Baba-Ahmed remarked, “I will rather advise him to be different from Buhari, and address those issues that need to be addressed with courage and sensitivity.” The Northern Elders Forum stalwart also took the opportunity to underline the damage caused by Buhari’s governance, which has led to heightened levels of insecurity and widespread poverty.
In conclusion, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed held no reservations in expressing his skepticism towards the early initiatives put forth by Bola Tinubu. He implored the potential presidential candidate to learn from the shortcomings of the Buhari administration and strive for a transparent, effective, and empathetic leadership style that matches the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
