In a sharply worded rebuttal, Sunday Dare, President Bola Tinubu’s media advisor, criticized Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, for his recent remarks on Arise Television. Baba-Ahmed had suggested that Tinubu should refrain from contesting the 2027 presidential election, arguing that his time had passed and Nigerians would demand genuine democracy in the next election cycle. Dare, however, dismissed these assertions as illogical, baseless, and lacking coherence, characterizing Baba-Ahmed’s political projections as misguided and detached from reality.
Dare likened Baba-Ahmed’s political commentary to the unreliable predictions of charlatans and questioned his credibility and competence. He further described listening to Baba-Ahmed as a “torment” and deemed his political logic unfit even for introductory political science courses. The core of Baba-Ahmed’s argument, according to Dare, revolved around the assumption that Tinubu would not secure a second term due to his past actions and the anticipated will of the Nigerian electorate. Dare contended that Baba-Ahmed neglected to acknowledge the substance of Tinubu’s governance and reforms, instead resorting to theoretical musings divorced from practical political realities.
Dare emphasized that politics demands a proven track record of performance, courage, vision, and talent, qualities he claimed Baba-Ahmed lacked. He accused Baba-Ahmed of dishonesty, particularly regarding his assertion that Tinubu was failing to deliver on his campaign promises. To counter this claim, Dare highlighted the global recognition of Tinubu’s economic reforms, citing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) positive assessment of the reforms’ impact on the Nigerian economy.
Supporting Tinubu’s economic policies, Dare pointed to improvements in economic indicators as evidence of their effectiveness. He argued that the tough decisions made by the President were already yielding positive results, aligning with the IMF’s assessment that the reforms had placed the economy in a better position to navigate external challenges. Dare projected a confident victory for Tinubu in the 2027 elections, emphasizing that his performance would pave the way for his re-election, irrespective of theoretical arguments or political conspiracies.
He challenged Baba-Ahmed’s ability to assess Tinubu’s political standing, suggesting that the former vice-presidential candidate lacked the experience and understanding to accurately judge the President’s prospects. Dare underscored the practical, performance-driven nature of politics, contrasting it with Baba-Ahmed’s theoretical approach. He posited that Tinubu’s “on-the-ground” achievements would outweigh any theoretical arguments against his re-election.
In closing, Dare advised Baba-Ahmed to focus on reviving his own political career rather than engaging in speculative political commentary. He suggested that Baba-Ahmed’s time would be better spent addressing his own political shortcomings than criticizing a leader whose performance, according to Dare, would speak for itself in the 2027 elections. He concluded with a pointed remark, suggesting that Baba-Ahmed should leave politics to those who are truly equipped for its complexities.
