Baba-Ahmed Criticizes Buhari as Nigeria’s Worst President, Reflects on Jonathan’s Administration

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has harshly criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, calling it the “worst in Nigeria’s history.”
Baba-Ahmed bemoaned the administration’s shortcomings and charged Buhari with putting the office ahead of governance during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Thursday.
Baba-Ahmed, who had originally backed Buhari’s ascent to power, reportedly expressed his disappointment with the government.

He said that although many Nigerians backed Buhari over former President Goodluck Jonathan because they thought he would be able to unite the nation and fight corruption, he was dissatisfied with his leadership style.
“The north was not represented by Buhari. Not because Buhari was from the north, but rather because he appeared like a better option than Goodluck Jonathan at the time, Baba-Ahmed stated.

He went on, “We believed he would be strong against corruption and able to bring the nation together, as Jonathan was lenient toward Boko Haram, etc. However, he proved to be the complete opposite.

Without hesitation, Baba-Ahmed called Buhari’s presidency the worst in Nigerian history. Using his 70 years of expertise, he clarified that Buhari’s administration neglected governance and neglected to put the needs of the underprivileged first.

As a 70-year-old, I can say that, in my experience, we haven’t had a worse government than Buhari’s. Baba-Ahmed said, “I haven’t seen a government that failed more at setting priorities, governing less, or caring less for the poor.”

When Baba-Ahmed reflected on his early backing of Buhari, he acknowledged that he had great expectations for the administration but quickly realized the President was more concerned with maintaining his office’s status than with providing effective governance.

“I participated actively in his campaign.” For four years, I presided over his party in my state. But months into his presidency, we saw he was more interested in being president than actually governing.

“We started with private advice, then moved to public criticism when it became clear he wouldn’t listen,” he revealed.

When asked about his tenure in the Tinubu administration, Baba-Ahmed remarked that although he had no regrets entering the government, he would not make the same decision again given the present trajectory of the leadership.

“No, I don’t regret going in. But given the present direction, I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t see the fire, the devotion, the zeal to fix a broken country. He said, “I saw more of a façade.”

Baba-Ahmed noted that although President Bola Tinubu made audacious pledges during the 2023 elections, such cutting subsidies and enacting strict reforms, he discovered that these measures lacked sufficient planning.

In 2023, Nigerians voted for Tinubu in the hopes that he would improve the nation. He cut subsidies and promised serious reforms, but he wasn’t genuinely prepared. His advisers are racing to address problems as they arise. Baba-Ahmed clarified, “There is a significant gap between talk and reality.

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The rising level of insecurity in the nation, especially in areas like Niger, Plateau, and Benue, was another issue Baba-Ahmed brought up.

Despite releasing contradictory numbers indicating a decrease in violence, he criticized the government for failing to confront the rising levels of violence.

More blood is being shed now than two years ago; visit Niger, Plateau, and Benue. They do, however, publish figures that indicate a decrease in violence. Who provides these figures to them? He questioned, “Do they even know how Nigerians are living?”