A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Illyasu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed the alleged alliance of northern politicians working against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He labelled Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former political adviser to Vice President Kashim Shettima, and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) stalwart, Engr. Buba Galadima, as “political spent forces” who lack the integrity to speak on behalf of the North.
Kwankwaso went further to accuse the duo of attempting to stir political and civil unrest in the northern region.
In a statement released by the Executive Director (Finance) of Hadejia Jama’are, Kwankwaso stated:
“The two personalities lack moral courage to talk about Tinubu administration because they were among the problems of the country.”
He criticized Baba-Ahmed’s brief stint in Tinubu’s administration, suggesting his resignation was not based on principle but personal disappointment:
“Hakeem Baba-Ahmed just recently accepted appointment in the Government of Tinubu thinking it was usual where appointee would made hell of money from public treasury but when he saw that’s not coming he resigned.”
“Today Hakeem Baba-Ahmed cannot tell why he accepted the job and also resigned because he lacks moral courage to talk about it,” Kwankwaso added.
This sharp rebuke came in response to Baba-Ahmed’s earlier warning that any manipulation of the 2027 general elections by the current administration would be firmly resisted.
Kwankwaso, however, maintained that Baba-Ahmed and Galadima have lost credibility in the North due to their past roles in government and lack of tangible contributions to the region: “Baba-Ahmed was among those who cheated the North by their long services in government but have nothing to show as their contributions to the region they today claim to be defending.”
The political war of words signals rising tensions in the North ahead of the next general elections, with allegiances and ambitions already setting the stage for a contentious political showdown.