Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a respected political analyst and former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has delivered a damning verdict on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of worsening the country’s leadership and economic crisis rather than improving citizens’ lives.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme aired on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Baba-Ahmed, who once served as a political adviser to President Tinubu, did not hold back in his criticism.
“Clearly, the Tinubu administration has failed expectations that it was going to radically improve the quality of governance,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He cited the removal of petrol subsidy as one of the administration’s most damaging economic decisions, stating that while reversing it may not have been realistic, the resultant hardship for ordinary Nigerians was deeply concerning.
“The removal of the subsidy has significantly impacted the quality of life for average Nigerians. Yet, there’s so much wastage of resources accruing to state and local governments from the money saved,” he noted.
He urged the president to focus on improving accountability at all levels of government and to ensure that public funds are used effectively—especially by governors, many of whom belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
>“So much waste, so much abuse of resources and corruption going on,” Baba-Ahmed lamented. “We need the president to take leadership in enforcing accountability.”
His remarks also addressed a broader pattern of poor leadership in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999. In his view, each successive president has failed more than the last in delivering good governance.
“Since 1999, every leadership that has taken over has been worse than the previous one,” he said. “Jonathan governed badly; President Buhari didn’t govern at all. Now, Tinubu started on a faulty foot and has done little to change course.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s leadership challenges, he pointed out that the key failure has been the self-interest of those in power, which undermines democratic principles and good governance.
“Nigeria’s leadership problem is rooted in the selfishness of those who lead. They govern for themselves, not for the people,” he said. “Even if you put them in the best country, they will still lead in the same disastrous manner.”
On governance metrics, Baba-Ahmed dismissed glowing international reports that suggest economic progress, arguing that these do not reflect the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians.
“The government may boast of World Bank statistics and international ratings, but real governance is judged by how people live,” he stressed. “And if that’s the yardstick, this government has clearly failed.”
Baba-Ahmed’s comments have stirred widespread reaction across political and civil society spaces, as critics of the Tinubu administration point to mounting economic hardship, insecurity, and declining public trust.
As Nigerians mark nearly two years of President Tinubu’s administration, voices like Baba-Ahmed’s are amplifying growing public concerns and urging urgent reforms to steer the country back toward responsible leadership and genuine development.
