Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has explained his recent comments that Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar lack the capacity to fix Nigeria if elected president in 2027.
Baba-Ahmed said his remarks were made in the interest of fairness, arguing that he did not want to give any of President Bola Tinubu’s major political challengers an advantage by calling for the president to step aside.
He gave the explanation while speaking on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, following criticism of his earlier interview with Seun Okinbaloye.
During the earlier interview, Baba-Ahmed said Tinubu should step aside and maintained that none of those seeking to succeed him in 2027 had the capacity to improve Nigeria.
When asked whether his assessment also included Peter Obi, his former running mate in the 2023 presidential election, he replied, “Yes, including Peter Obi.”
‘I didn’t want to disadvantage Tinubu’
Baba-Ahmed said his assessment of Obi and Atiku was influenced by his desire to maintain what he considered a fair balance among the major contenders in the 2027 presidential race.
“In the way 2027 elections are, I will not disadvantage Uncle (Tinubu). I will not disadvantage him to unnecessarily promote Baba Atiku and Peter Obi and others, because we have to be fair in life, and that’s what I stand for,” he said.
He explained that asking Tinubu to leave office while simultaneously promoting opposition candidates would amount to giving those candidates an unfair advantage.
“I don’t want to unduly disadvantage a key opponent. Who is the key opponent? The major opponent, Tinubu, Shettima ticket and promote the Atiku ticket, which I’m not there, or the Obi ticket that I’m not there. One has to be fair in life, and that’s what happened,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He added that the issue was not what he had initially intended to discuss with Okinbaloye but was introduced during the interview.
“And it was not what I went to discuss with Seun, but Seun found a way of bringing that topic and insisting, including Peter Obi,” he said.
I still stand by Obi
Baba-Ahmed also rejected suggestions that his comments amounted to a withdrawal of his support for Obi, saying he remained appreciative of the political journey they shared.
“What I have done to support Peter Obi, I can repeat it,” he said.
“Peter Obi knows I stood for him. I still stand by him, and it is regretful those moves he made. But it is his choice.”
He also dismissed claims that Obi had “dropped” him, saying he had raised concerns about Obi’s political plans long before the current controversy.
“Now they keep saying that he dropped me. He didn’t drop me,” Baba-Ahmed said.
“On 31st of January, 2024, I told him, sir, I need you to have a plan, and you don’t have it. At least I haven’t heard from you.”
Baba-Ahmed further expressed his respect for Atiku, describing the former vice-president as a father figure and stressing that his comments were not intended to undermine him.
“Between me and Atiku, it’s much, much, much respect. In fact, I was able to remind him that I personally see you as like a father figure,” he said.
Source: Naija Unfiltered Podcast
