Atiku urges to quit presidential race, embrace statesmanship
From Abba Dukawa
A former political adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step away from presidential contests and instead assume the role of a national statesman.
Speaking during an interview on AIT, Baba-Ahmed acknowledged Atiku’s long-standing influence in Nigerian politics but said it was time for him to play a more unifying, behind-the-scenes role in shaping the country’s democratic future.
“Atiku is a prominent figure in Nigerian politics – he served as vice president for eight years and has contested for the presidency three times. That alone is an impressive record,” Baba-Ahmed said. “But I don’t think he should aspire to lead this country again. He should now be a father figure, a hero of democracy.”
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He urged Atiku, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),t o invest his experience and political capital into mentoring a new generation of leaders and helping to build a credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“He should help build an alternative to the APC by bringing in new blood, fresh perspectives, and younger leaders. Let him tell them: ‘The future belongs to you, and I will stand behind you,’” Baba-Ahmed advised.
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The former adviser extended the same counsel to other influential political figures, including former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai.
“Amaechi should also take up that fatherly role. And El-Rufai – if he can manage his ego -should be part of this broader movement for national renewal,” he added.
Baba-Ahmed’s comments add to growing calls for generational transition in Nigeria’s political landscape, as the country continues to grapple with leadership fatigue and demands for reform.
