I never had chance to advise Tinubu – Baba-Ahmed

Immediate past special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political affairs, office of the Vice President, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has shared his experience serving under the current administration.

In a video circulating online, Mr Baba-Ahmed said he was rendered idle and never had the opportunity to advise the president as his role specified.

He said he couldn’t in good conscience continue to serve in a government that does not recognise his values and experience.

“It was President Bola Tinubu who appointed me as his special adviser in the [office of the vice president]. 

“My job description demands that I advise the president through the vice president,” he said.

The former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum added that, “Unfortunately, I was in the government for over a year and some months but never had the opportunity to meet or advise the president.
“Everything I had seen or foresaw to advise and offer suggestions was just between me and Kashim Shettima [Vice President].
“I understand how the politics of the Nigerian presidency is structured.
“Vice President offices are mostly like observers who only watch and see how things are done.
“They are not mostly involved in decision-making.
“And if you made attempts to directly engage, you might be accused of having ulterior motives. 
“That is the tradition, and it doesn’t start under the current administration.

“I have worked with the federal government for 22 years, and most of my years of service were in the Villa.

Some I’m conversant with in the power play there.”

He added that, “when I noticed the situation and began to complain to the Vice President about my plight, I told him I came with clear intention after he had invited me to come join the administration; they said they needed people like us to advise them, caution and offer guidance.
“But I have realised that this is not what’s going on.

“We came in and sat idly. But I endured for a while so that I won’t be accused of impatience.

“And I thought that a lot of things were not going on right , and if I continue staying, I don’t have the means to correct anything.
“Because they don’t even recognise our existence to even seek our advice on the way forward. It was as though we were not there to help.
“To some people it might mean nothing, but for me it’s a big deal. I came to be a part of the process that would repair the damages done to the country by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. 
“Buhari caused severe damage to this country and the northern region.

“And my job is not to sit and be lamenting all the time. That’s why when I was criticising the Buhari administration, people who didn’t know me much thought that was my forte… I have served in the government and held several positions, so I can be redundant.”

He said there was a lot of advice he would have to offer to the president that would uplift the Northern region.

He also said the administration has not done anything meaningful to address the challenges facing the Northern region.
“We haven’t seen evidence that they are repairing the North and there is no proof that they have plans to mitigate the issues plaguing the region”, he added.