The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s three and a half years in office.
Baba-Ahmed spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
He described Tinubu’s time in power as an outright failure, going as far as to allege that Tinubu bought his way into the presidency in 2023.
According to Naija News, the PRP chairman also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to buy Northern votes ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that the region would not be humiliated twice.
His comments add to a growing chorus of criticism from opposition figures ahead of the next election cycle, as Nigerians continue to grapple with high living costs and insecurity in several states.
Baba-Ahmed Says Tinubu Has Failed Nigerians
Baba-Ahmed said Tinubu inherited a troubled country but has made things worse rather than better.
“Tinubu inherited Nigeria, but what has he done with it? He inherited a poor country; he inherited weak institutions; he inherited poverty and insecurity. We don’t blame him, but he’s been in power for three and a half years. He is a failure,” he said.
He further alleged that the President’s reluctance to campaign across all states reflects an administration with nothing new to tell Nigerians.
“Why doesn’t Tinubu commit himself to say, I will. I have the energy, I have the intention, I want to see Nigerians, I want Nigerians to see me, I want them to hear me explain why they are more hungry,” he said.
“Yes, he has nothing to say to them, I’m telling you, he has nothing to say to Nigerians,” Baba-Ahmed added.
He also faulted the administration’s economic reforms, which include the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira, arguing the policies were anti-people.
“He made some tough decisions but they were anti-people decisions, a tough decision doesn’t have to be a good decision,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed lamented worsening insecurity and a rise in the number of out-of-school children, particularly in areas under the influence of bandits and kidnappers.
“Security has gotten considerably worse, it has never been worse like this,” he said, dismissing the administration’s economic statistics as propaganda that does not reflect the hardship ordinary Nigerians face.
PRP Chairman Warns APC Against Vote-Buying In The North
Baba-Ahmed also accused Tinubu and the APC of undermining Northern voters in the build-up to the 2027 polls.
He alleged that the ruling party plans to deploy large sums of money to sway Northern electorates, a tactic he said the region would resist.
“We know they will share money that has never been seen distributed in politics. Their problem is undermining the Northerners. We will show them that we too are citizens whose voices and dignity matter,” he said.
He questioned what APC campaign leaders would tell voters in states such as Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Kwara, Kaduna, Plateau, Kogi and Nasarawa, several of which have faced prolonged insecurity.
Baba-Ahmed challenged Tinubu’s supporters to contest the election openly and warned against any attempt to manipulate results should the North reject the APC in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed Insists Discontent Is Nationwide, Not Just Northern
Baba-Ahmed said frustration with the Tinubu administration cuts across the country and is not confined to the North.
“It’s nothing to do with being northern at all. There are a lot of elite, there are a lot of Nigerians who are angry with Tinubu because he’s not listening to anybody,” he said.
“The North is angry with Tinubu like other Nigerians are angry with Tinubu because he came here on the promise to fix a lot of the things that are wrong, and he didn’t,” he added.
Baba-Ahmed Alleges Tinubu Self-Funded His 2023 Campaign
In a further allegation, Baba-Ahmed claimed Tinubu personally financed his 2023 presidential bid without relying on contributions from Nigerians.
“He single-handedly bought his way into power. He could quite possibly be the only president who campaigned for and paid for his campaign to become president,” he said.
“He literally bought his own way into the Villa, and he funded his campaign,” Baba-Ahmed added, suggesting this explained Tinubu’s “Emi Lokan” (It’s my turn) campaign slogan.
His remarks followed Tinubu’s statement at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Abuja, where the President said he would not campaign in every state because of governance demands.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” Tinubu had said.
Reacting via his 𝕏 handle, Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians were not expecting to see Tinubu campaign and accused him of running the country aground.
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