Former spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum and ex-presidential adviser, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has declared that no politician can become Nigeria’s president without the support of the North.
Baba-Ahmed, who resigned recently as Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, made the assertion during a viral video interview alongside Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“No politician can become President of Nigeria without the support of the North,”; Baba-Ahmed stated pointedly, sending a clear signal that the region’s political weight remains decisive.
He revealed that the North will announce its political direction ahead of the 2027 elections in the coming months.
“In the next six months, you will hear what the North is going to do. We are not going to hide it,”; he said.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the North has endured deep hardship over the years, particularly during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency that devastated communities across ethnic and religious lines.
“We have suffered. We know what hardship means. We want a government that understands our problems and is ready to address them,”; he emphasized.
He warned against the continued marginalisation of the North in national politics, noting that the region’s patience is wearing thin.
“If they plan to rig the election, they should be careful. It won’t be good for Nigeria,”; he cautioned.
Baba-Ahmed further described the North as more politically conscious than ever before, insisting that northern voters will no longer be misled by empty promises or divisive politics.
“The North is watching. Our elders, our youth, our interest groups; everyone is awake. We will soon say enough is enough,”; he said.
He also reminded political actors that equity and justice must guide national leadership selection if Nigeria is to remain stable.
“The North’s stance will significantly influence the 2027 elections. It’s time politicians started taking us seriously,”; Baba-Ahmed warned.
