Tinubu Government More Oppressive Than Babangida, Abacha, Abubakar Regimes — Datti Baba-Ahmed

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as more oppressive than the military regimes of Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Baba-Ahmed urged Tinubu not to seek re-election in 2027, saying the next presidential election would be a contest between the president and the Nigerian people.

He made the remarks during an interview on The Mic-On Podcast, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye, where he accused the Tinubu administration of exercising what he described as “brute civil force” and using state institutions to suppress political opposition and dissent.

According to Baba-Ahmed, the concentration of political power under the current administration was unprecedented, arguing that even previous military rulers showed greater respect for constitutional principles.

“Is it because we have an individual, because we have a civilian, that civilian is more than a maximum ruler? Because the person ruling Nigeria today is doing what even military rulers did not do,” he said.

He specifically compared Tinubu’s leadership with the regimes of Babangida, Abacha and Abubakar, describing the former military rulers as dictators who nevertheless maintained what he considered a degree of discipline and restraint.

“The military was so disciplined. They respected the Constitution. They had shame. They had principles. They had scruples. But now it is brute civil force. That’s what we’re experiencing in Nigeria,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed advised Tinubu to prepare to leave office at the end of his current tenure rather than contest the 2027 presidential election.

“I would simply advise ‘Uncle’ to please prepare to hand over and move away, but not to the people contesting against him, because none of them will improve Nigeria,” he said.

When asked whether he included Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, among politicians he believed would not improve the country, Baba-Ahmed answered in the affirmative.

“None of that pack. Tinubu should leave the stage. All those people contesting against him, too, they were all in bed together at some point or another,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed said his position was not an endorsement of any existing politician but a call for “a whole new Nigeria,” arguing that the country needs leadership beyond politicians who have previously belonged to established ruling parties.

“Tell me one politician who has never been in a ruling party. Tell me,” he said.

Criticism Of National Assembly

The former senator also criticised the National Assembly, alleging that the legislature has become too close to the executive and has effectively turned into an extension of the presidency.

He particularly condemned lawmakers singing political songs in support of the president, arguing that such conduct undermines the independence of the legislature.

“A legislature must never be that compromised to the level of singing for those who are members of their party. Singing ‘On your mandate we shall stand,’” Baba-Ahmed said.

He added that, if he were still a member of the House of Representatives, he would have taken steps to prevent such conduct from recurring.

2023 Election Claims

Baba-Ahmed also revisited the 2023 presidential election, alleging that the electronic transmission and reporting of results through the Independent National Electoral Commission’s IReV platform was interrupted and that constitutional provisions were breached.

“From outside government, you had switched off IReV. From outside government, it was switched off. The Constitution was breached,” he alleged.

He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the declaration of the presidential election result and alleged that the presence of the National Security Adviser in court during proceedings concerning the election raised questions that deserved answers.

Baba-Ahmed has consistently maintained that the Labour Party ticket of Peter Obi and himself won the 2023 presidential election and that there were constitutional grounds to challenge the process leading to Tinubu’s inauguration.

Despite his criticism of the current political system, he rejected military intervention as an alternative, saying Nigeria’s solution lies in improving its democratic institutions.

“The only option to bad democracy is good democracy,” he said.

He called for what he described as “legitimate, active civil engagement,” urging Nigerians to become more involved in politics and challenge poor leadership through lawful means.

“The good people in Nigeria must come out, sacrifice their comfort, leave their comfort zones, come out and ride out, push out the bad elements that have been destroying Nigeria,” he said.

Insecurity And Corruption

On insecurity, Baba-Ahmed argued that corruption was at the heart of Nigeria’s security challenges, claiming that tackling corruption could address more than half of the country’s insecurity problems.

“How do you… Once you remove corruption, you have fought more than 50% of insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

He called for greater investment in the armed forces, including military equipment, personnel welfare and technology to monitor Nigeria’s extensive borders.

According to him, modern surveillance technology could allow Nigeria to monitor large stretches of its borders from central command facilities.

“One individual sitting from a control command centre in Abuja can control a border of 1,000 kilometres with technology,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also criticised the government over persistent attacks and abductions, particularly the kidnapping of students, arguing that Nigeria should have the capacity to better protect its citizens.

Economic Reforms

On Tinubu’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign-exchange reforms, Baba-Ahmed argued that policies could not succeed without addressing what he described as the underlying character and integrity of government.

He compared governance to constructing infrastructure, saying the success of economic policies depends on the “foundation” on which they are built.

“Those policies are supposed to rest on something. What is that thing? That is the character, content, principles, and philosophy of the leadership,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed argued that economic policies would fail if corruption remained entrenched in government.

“Whatever policy – however beautiful it is you bring – that is laced with corruption, it will never work,” he said.

He acknowledged that some Nigerians may have benefited from the administration’s economic policies but attributed such benefits largely to what he described as the president’s friends and political associates.

His remarks come as political parties and opposition groups position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with increasing focus on the ability of opposition forces to mount a credible challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians should focus less on individual politicians and more on building strong institutions and a political system capable of producing accountable leadership.