From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
As at yesterday afternoon, it was doubtful if the former Spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed would talk to Daily Sun about his resignation as the Special Adviser on Political Issues in the office of Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
However, when he unexpectedly picked his call by our Correspondent, he expressed calmness, saying that his resignation was normal, and that it was not out of any bitterness and malice against any quarter.
When our Correspondent asked him if he has returned to his familiar terrain at the NEF, he said, “they have not called me yet. And I am still waiting for the acceptance of my resignation by the presidency which I believe was delayed because of Mr. President’s trip out of the country. We are not fighting. It is normal situation”.
President Bola Tinubu appointed the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in September 2023 as the Special Adviser on Political issues in the office of Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, is the elder brother of the running mate to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Datti Baba Ahmed.
At the time of appointment, he said he was honoured to be given the chance to contribute to national development.
Prior to his appointment at the presidency, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed was very critical of government policy and programmes.
A lecturer with the BAZE University, Abuja, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed combined very well the teaching job with the spokesman ship at NEF, to the extent that whenever The Sun needed his reaction on national issues, he would gladly responded, saying, “give me some few times to respond to your question because I am in the classroom”.
However, as soon as he was given and accepted the appointment at the presidency, he distanced himself not only from the media but also from NEF.
Interestingly, it happened in late 2024, a year after his appointment at the presidency when our Correspondent ran into him at a public function in Kaduna and jovially told him that, “Sir, I’m missing your reaction for the Sun newspaper on national issues because of your appointment”. And he immediately replied, “I am missing you too”. We all parted ways with laughter.
Perhaps, predictable, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed would not allow this government a breathing space, now that he was an insider of government actions and inactions now that he is making a strong move to relaunch the usual attacks on the power-that be for unfavourable policies against the masses.
A former Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani has agreed with Hakeem Baba-Ahmed saying that, “No president can emerge without the support of the southern region. And this is because the constitution is clear in its provisions that in order to win the elections and become president,one must win not only majority vote but also win at least 25% of the votes in each of at least two third of the 36 states.That is to say,one must secure 25% in each of at least 24 states.
And since no region has 24 states,it means nobody can be president without northern region nor southern region.
And I believe the requirements for both majority votes and spread is deliberate in order to force the regions to work together and produce the president for purpose of unity of the nation.
“I have said it many times that the North is always one on many political issues which most northerners share.But when it comes to partisan issues the North is never one.That explains the outcome of the elections in the North in 2023”.
Meanwhile, the incumbent Spokesperson of NEF, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere said Hakeem Baba-Ahmed remains their member even in and out the presidency appointment.
“Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has never left the Forum, he is our member and he is always welcome back to the Forum now that he has resigned from the presidency. He was our Spokesperson”. He said.