Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that no politician can win the 2027 presidential election without the backing of the North.
Speaking in a video interview in Kaduna over the weekend, Baba-Ahmed appeared alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), where he emphasised that the North would soon take a decisive stand on its political future.
“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way. One thing is clear: nobody can become president of Nigeria without northern support,” he stated.
Baba-Ahmed decried the current state of the nation and urged Northerners to be vigilant and reject deceptive and divisive politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now, we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?” he queried.
Reflecting on the region’s struggles during the height of Boko Haram insurgency, Baba-Ahmed recalled how Northerners—regardless of religion or ethnicity—united during a difficult era. He noted that this history of hardship has made the region more politically discerning.
“Before Buhari became president, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That was a time when Northerners had to unite. Today, no politician can just show up and expect Northerners to fall in line. Who are you?” he asked.
He cautioned against any attempts to marginalise the region or manipulate the next general elections, warning that such actions would be met with resistance.
“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria. The North is watching. Elders, masses, and interest groups will soon say ‘enough is enough.’ The injustice and sidelining must stop,” he said.
While urging the North to move beyond identity politics, Baba-Ahmed stressed that competence and integrity—not ethnicity or religion—should guide voter decisions.
“We are tired of being deceived into voting based on religion or ethnicity. That era is over. We just want the right leader. Let him fall from heaven, we want someone who will solve our problems,” he declared.
