Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has opened up about his disillusionment with the Tinubu administration, describing his time in office as deeply disappointing.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV, Baba-Ahmed revealed that he joined the administration with high hopes, but quickly encountered a lack of engagement and strategic direction. He said the marginalisation of vice presidents has been a recurring theme in Nigerian governance, not unique to the Tinubu administration.

“If the president feels the office of the vice president is not that important, then that’s the reality. I saw and spoke with Vice President Shettima almost daily, but the role demands more than presence and conversation,” he noted.

Reflecting on his limited interaction with President Bola Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed stated:
“I only saw the president three times at the mosque in the Villa. I never had a chance to sit and talk with him. I believe President Tinubu simply doesn’t make time for many of those working with him. He’s genuinely isolated.”

He described this isolation whether deliberate or circumstantial as a serious concern for national governance.
“The president needs to be available to the people he trusts and who work for him. That’s not just his problem; it’s a problem for the country.”

Baba-Ahmed questioned the quality of advice reaching the president.
“If you listen to people around him speak about Nigeria, it’s as if they’re living in a different reality. It’s frustrating. We work in the Villa and then go home to meet the people we see the despair, the insecurity, the hardship. People are losing hope and asking whether democracy is even worth it.”

He stressed that capable, grounded advisers who understand the country's realities are crucial to effective governance.
“If the president had people who are truly connected to the issues advising him, the country would be in a better place.”

Baba-Ahmed also distanced himself from recent political coalitions and reiterated his stance that President Tinubu should consider stepping aside before the 2027 general elections. He had previously penned an open letter urging the president to hand over leadership to a younger generation.

“Step aside not for your opponents, but for a new generation of Nigerians with fresh energy and ideas. Our generation has had its turn. It would be a masterstroke if you and your party yielded space to new voices. That could catalyse a peaceful, historic transformation.”

He added a word of caution:
“You hold what the opposition lacks the power to reduce the suffering of the average Nigerian. Use it well. Watch 2027, yes but don’t be consumed by it.”

Reflecting on his 18-month tenure, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged that the administration inherited a battered economy and an exhausted populace, but criticised its failure to channel the enthusiasm from the president’s inauguration into a coherent governance agenda.

He described the “Renewed Hope” slogan as hollow, and faulted the cabinet selection process:
“More than half of the cabinet members have no business managing the affairs of a country grappling with insecurity, poverty, and distrust in leadership.”

Ultimately, Baba-Ahmed warned that excessive focus on political positioning ahead of 2027 risks undermining both governance and any chance at meaningful national progress.