In a bold and introspective critique, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on Northerners to take responsibility for their role in the emergence of the current administration and its perceived shortcomings. Writing in his Tuesday column, Baba-Ahmed lamented that many in the North—particularly Muslims—threw their weight behind the Tinubu-Shettima ticket not out of conviction in Tinubu's competence or vision for Nigeria, but simply because of the shared religious identity presented by the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.
With refreshing candor, Baba-Ahmed dissected the emotional and religious sentiments that shaped the 2023 general elections. He argued that the decision of many Northerners to back Tinubu was not driven by policy alignment or proven leadership prowess, but rather by a sense of religious solidarity—an impulse that, according to him, has now come back to haunt the region.
“We must be honest with ourselves,” he wrote. “We supported this administration not because we believed in its ability to turn Nigeria around, but because we saw in it a religious alignment that felt familiar. That was not patriotism—it was sentiment.”
His remarks have sparked heated conversations across political lines, as they challenge the usual silence from high-profile insiders. The former aide’s statement is especially striking given his proximity to power and the fact that he was an integral part of the administration until recently.
Baba-Ahmed’s intervention comes at a time when frustration continues to grow over economic hardship, rising inflation, and the effects of subsidy removal, which have disproportionately affected the northern poor. Many citizens are now questioning whether the decision to vote based on religious sentiments, rather than merit and performance history, was a grave error.
As the 2027 elections slowly approach the national consciousness, Baba-Ahmed’s words may serve as both a reckoning and a warning: that political choices rooted in emotion rather than evaluation could lead not to liberation, but to further regret.