Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has taken a swipe at some of Nigeria’s leading opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, describing them as “office seekers” rather than genuine opposition leaders.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Datti questioned the response of opposition politicians to the country’s worsening security crisis, particularly after recent deadly bomb attacks in Borno State. According to him, true opposition leadership requires standing physically with affected communities, not merely reacting through social media posts and public statements.
Referencing past visits by President Bola Tinubu and late former President Muhammadu Buhari to Maiduguri during the height of insurgency attacks, Datti argued that opposition leaders should demonstrate similar solidarity with victims of insecurity. He maintained that tweeting about national tragedies is not enough, insisting that leaders must engage directly with citizens facing hardship and violence.
“It’s not enough that they are tweeting about it; that’s child’s play. They are not opposition members, they are office seekers,” Datti said.
While criticising the broader opposition movement, he singled out former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for praise, describing him as an “excellent material” among current political actors.
Datti also reflected on his relationship with Peter Obi, revealing that he disagreed with some of the former Anambra State governor’s political decisions. According to him, Obi chose political paths he had advised against, despite his continued support for the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
His comments come amid increasing debates over the role of opposition parties as Nigeria grapples with rising insecurity, economic challenges, and growing calls for stronger political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Source: Trust TV
