Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has finally confirmed his resignation as Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (in the office of Vice-President Kashim Shettima).
Baba-Ahmed’s resignation was reported by the Daily Trust recently, by Dateline Nigeria learnt that the former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) left the Tinubu administration ‘long ago’.
Confirming the resignation for the first time, Baba-Ahmed spoke on Saturday shortly after the wedding of his daughter Fatima Zahra at their family house in Tudun Wada, Zaria.
Dr Hakeem, who is also a former Federal Permanent Secretary, disclosed that he would soon join former Director General of the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) Prof Usman Yusuf in championing the cause of the North and Nigeria as a whole.
“We have been relating with Prof Usman for years even though he is younger than me. His elder brothers were actually our juniors in school, they didn’t even meet us. But circumstances have brought us together,” he said.
Dr Baba-Ahmad also urged the Federal Government to be circumspect so as not to tarnish its image. He expressed concern that Prof Usman was arrested for an offence allegedly committed over seven years ago, just because of his criticism of the government.
The former NEF spokesman also supported the idea of having a grand coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that the North will not allow itself to be taken for a ride again.
He said very soon the North will make its position known with regards to the sort of leadership it expects in 2027, adding that the region will not accept rigging.
