Hakeem Baba Ahmed, National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and former chairman of the northern elders forum has described President Bola Tinubu as a failure, questioning his performance after three and a half years in office.
Baba Ahmed made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he criticised the administration over poverty, insecurity, weak institutions and the growing economic hardship facing Nigerians.
According to him, although Tinubu inherited a country already struggling with serious challenges, his time in office should be judged by what he has done to improve the situation.
“Tinubu inherited Nigeria, but what has he done with it? He inherited a poor country; he inherited weak institutions; he inherited poverty and insecurity. We don’t blame him, but he’s been in power for three and a half years. He is a failure,” Baba Ahmed said.
The PRP chairman also questioned the president’s reported approach to campaigning ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that Tinubu should personally meet Nigerians and explain his policies, their impact and the difficulties citizens continue to face.
Baba Ahmed challenged the president to demonstrate the willingness and energy to engage voters directly rather than relying on political allies to campaign on his behalf.
He argued that Nigerians deserved an explanation from the president about why many people were struggling with hunger and rising living costs despite the administration’s economic policies.
The opposition leader also criticised the government’s economic reforms, insisting that difficult decisions should not automatically be considered good decisions simply because they are politically challenging.
He maintained that the impact of government policies on ordinary citizens should be a central consideration when assessing their success.
Baba Ahmed further raised concerns about education and insecurity, particularly the situation of children living in areas affected by banditry and kidnapping.
He questioned the value of government loan programmes when millions of children, according to his assessment, remain unable to attend school because of insecurity in their communities.
The PRP chairman also alleged that insecurity had worsened under Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the daily experiences of Nigerians did not reflect the positive picture the government sought to present through economic statistics.
He dismissed the administration’s emphasis on economic indicators as inadequate, saying figures alone could not convince citizens that their lives were improving when they continued to face hardship and safety concerns.
Baba Ahmed also questioned the argument that Nigerians should endure present difficulties in anticipation of better economic conditions during a possible second term for Tinubu.
He argued that the government should have carefully considered the immediate consequences of its major economic decisions before implementing them, particularly their effects on poverty and transportation costs.
According to him, the cost of transportation has a direct impact on the prices of goods and services, making it essential for the government to consider how its policies affect household spending.
Baba Ahmed’s criticism adds to growing political debate over the Tinubu administration’s record as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.
The president’s supporters have defended his economic reforms as necessary steps towards stabilising the economy, while critics have focused on the immediate burden of higher living costs and persistent insecurity.
The central question raised by Baba Ahmed is whether the administration has done enough during its time in office to improve the lives of Nigerians and address the challenges it inherited.
