Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says Peter Obi’s exit from the LP in the middle of a crisis was not a great leadership move.
He added that it is unlikely that northern voters would
support a political alliance between Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the LP, and
Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, formally joined the Nigeria Democratic
Congress (NDC) on Sunday.
Baba-Ahmed spoke to journalists on Monday after his recent
defection to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
He said his was a personal opinion, noting that he still
maintains a good relationship with both politicians.
“As much as possible, I try to avoid names of anybody at
this stage or the politics of everyone. But it is very unlikely that the north
will rally around Obi and Kwankwaso,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed added that he previously advised Obi to engage
Kwankwaso and other opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I did say that I feel guilty because I was the one who told
Peter Obi on the 31st of January 2024 in John Woods hotel, after asking him a
few things, and I told him, ‘Your excellency, from this point there is
Kwankwaso, there is el-Rufai, there’s another person I would like to suggest
you to approach them,’” he said.
The politician added that he recommended the alliance as
part of long-term political planning, but noted that it raises questions about
its viability.
“If in 2024 you cannot plan 2027, I’m sorry, I cannot
continue to be with you,” he said.
“So they are going together now with Kwankwaso, it’s my
idea. Do you understand? Will it work? I think it’s a big question. We’ll wait
and see.”
He also questioned why Kwankwaso did not support Obi in the
2023 elections.
“However, remember, why didn’t Kwankwaso support Peter Obi
in 2022/23. What changed between 2022 and 23?” he asked.
Baba-Ahmed opined that the political dynamics of leadership
roles within such an alliance could pose challenges.
“You have a vice-president that is older than you, first of
all in age, in education, in political profile, in so many other things,” he
said.
“This is somebody with a burning ambition and temperament,
who is going to be the president, actually?
“If you are presenting a ticket, throughout history, there’s
a certain configuration that it goes.”
He said expectations from Kwankwaso around future power
rotation could also create complications.
“And then the intricacies of, all right, ‘certainly 2031 is
mine’. That doesn’t play out well in any political contest,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed added that Obi should have stayed back at LP to
resolve the crisis in the party.
“Someone who got Labour Party ticket so easily, should have
stayed to fix the problems of Labour Party however difficult they were,” he
said.
“I stood and I earned the wrath of many because I said ‘come
and reconcile’ in Labour Party.
“Only for me to hear, to read it, and to even view it in the
news. Here’s my former leader, my boss who I believe in, saying wherever there
is a quarrel, he will walk away. So, there is a quarrel in Nigeria, you will
walk away? These are things that don’t add up.”
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