Datti Baba-Ahmed Labels Obi and Atiku 'Office Seekers' Over Passive Opposition Stance

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has launched a blistering critique against prominent political figures Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, dismissing them as mere power-chasers rather than genuine leaders of the opposition. Speaking during an appearance on a national television programme, Baba-Ahmed heavily questioned the responsiveness of the country’s leading politicians to the worsening wave of insecurity, particularly pointing to recent devastating bomb blasts that rocked Borno State. He argued that authentic opposition leadership demands tangible sacrifices and direct physical engagement with vulnerable citizens on the ground during times of national tragedy, rather than merely issuing detached political commentary from a comfortable distance.

To illustrate his point, the former running mate recalled the historic actions of President Bola Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that during the absolute peak of the regional insurgency a decade ago, both leaders travelled directly to the epicentre of the crisis to walk the streets of Maiduguri and physically console the local population. Baba-Ahmed asserted that true statesmen build trust by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the electorate in times of peril, making the current practice of hiding behind social media platforms to post brief public expressions of sympathy completely insufficient. He sharply defined these digital reactions as superficial child's play, concluding that the failure of current political frontrunners to lead physically present solidarity marches proves they are fundamentally motivated by securing public office rather than executing the duties of a robust opposition.

While expressing profound disappointment with the general state of the contemporary opposition movement, Baba-Ahmed singled out the former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as a rare exception to the rule, describing him as excellent leadership material despite missing out on broader structural opportunities. He also used the broadcast to reflect candidly on his past political relationship with Peter Obi during their highly visible 2023 presidential campaign, reinforcing his ultimate commitment to systemic reform over partisan loyalty. His remarks come amidst shifting political alliances as various factions attempt to realign themselves under fresh banners, exposing deeper ideological fractures within the broader opposition camp regarding the necessary strategies required to challenge the ruling administration in future electoral cycles.