2027: You Have Nothing To Say To Nigerians— Baba-Ahmed Blasts Tinubu

The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s performance, describing him as a failure and alleging that he has little to offer Nigerians as the 2027 general elections approach.

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he faulted the administration over worsening insecurity, economic hardship and the effects of its policies on citizens.

“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.

The PRP chairman also questioned reports that the president intended to limit his campaign appearances to a few locations, arguing that Tinubu should meet Nigerians directly and explain his policies and their impact on their living conditions.

“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,” Baba-Ahmed said.

When asked why he thought Tinubu had indicated that he would visit only a few places during the campaign, Baba-Ahmed said the president lacked convincing answers for the electorate.

“Yes, he has nothing to say to them, I’m telling you, he has nothing to say to Nigerians.”

He further challenged the president’s reported decision to delegate campaign activities to others while remaining in Abuja, questioning his record in office.

“The reason why he said, Go, gentlemen, go and campaign for me. I will stay here in Abuja and run the country. You’re running the country now? For three and a half years, you didn’t run the country, now you remember that you are here to run the country?”

Baba-Ahmed also condemned the administration’s economic reforms, arguing that the difficult choices made by Tinubu had imposed greater hardship on citizens rather than improving their welfare.

“He (Tinubu) made some tough decisions but they were anti-people decisions, a tough decision doesn’t have to be a good decision,” he said.

On education, the PRP chairman questioned the benefits of the administration’s policies, particularly for children in communities affected by insecurity, where attacks by bandits and kidnappers have disrupted access to schooling.

“You talk about creating loans, that’s good, but do you know how many millions of children that can’t go to school under Tinubu’s watch in this country? Children who live in territories taken over by bandits, kidnappers, and who can’t go to school at all?”

He also argued that the security situation had worsened under Tinubu’s leadership.

“Security has gotten considerably worse, it has never been worse like this,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed dismissed the administration’s presentation of economic figures as propaganda, insisting that official statistics did not reflect the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“All these things you mentioned, this is the propaganda. Unfortunately, for Tinubu, Nigerians are not going to buy it. Children are not going to school, life is more insecure, life is harder,” he said.

He further questioned the president’s appeal for another four-year term, arguing that it depended on persuading Nigerians to endure present hardships in anticipation of future improvements.

“He flashes all these statistics, he is saying, give me a second chance, even Tinubu will not say he made lives more better, what he will say is that yes, we are going through a difficult part, if you give me another four years, we will get better,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The PRP chairman also challenged the timing and implementation of the administration’s economic policies, arguing that their likely consequences should have been considered before they were introduced.

“You said the microeconomics is good, those are statistics that they use and they will tell you, if you give me another four years, I will see them. Sir, if you knew you had four years within which you’ll embark on a profoundly influential policy, shouldn’t you look at it first of all and say, I’m going to have four years and if I embark on these policies, it will have major economic impacts.”

He maintained that a responsible president should assess how economic decisions would affect citizens’ immediate needs and livelihoods before implementing them.

“A thinking president will say let me do one or two things first, because I will impoverish people and the cost of transportation is vital and central to everything.”