Coalition led by Atiku, El-Rufai lacks credibility — Baba-Ahmed

Former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has criticised the ongoing efforts by opposition leaders to form a new political party, saying the coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai lacks credibility and fresh ideas.

He revealed this while speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Monday.

Baba-Ahmed said the current leaders of the opposition coalition were not different from those in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and questioned their ability to offer real change to Nigerians.

“There are divisions among coalition members. None of these people should lead or be seen in a position that they are determining who should be in that coalition,” he said.

He added that many Nigerians do not believe that the coalition leaders truly represent a different future from the current government.

“They don’t have faith that you actually represent a different future from this government, you just want to replace the government of President Tinubu,” he said.

The coalition, which is applying to register a new political party called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), is said to include key political figures such as Atiku and El-Rufai. But Baba-Ahmed believes the movement is being controlled by people more focused on personal ambition than national progress.

“What they need is a generational shift and a political shift away from who they are, what they have done, and what they want to do,” he said.

He urged the opposition to step back and allow new and younger leaders to emerge with fresh energy, ideas, and vision for the country.

“We need different kinds of Nigerians who can give Nigerians hope, not people who have become vice-president and contested three times, or those who have been governors and ministers,” he added.