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Former Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described prominent opposition figures Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar as “office seekers” rather than genuine opposition leaders, criticising them for failing to consistently hold the current administration accountable.
In a recent interview, Senator Baba-Ahmed argued that true opposition requires constant engagement with the government on all policies and actions, not just vocal criticism during election seasons. He noted that effective opposition should deny the ruling government “breathing space” through sustained pressure on issues like governance failures, insecurity, and constitutional breaches.
“Peter Obi and Atiku are not opposition but mere office seekers. Opposition is when you are active, actually technically engaging the mis-ruling government on every action that they do. Not only when it is time to seek office,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
He emphasised that tweeting or occasional criticism is insufficient, describing such approaches as “child’s play.” Baba-Ahmed pointed out that many self-proclaimed opposition figures have previously served in ruling parties and only become vocal when seeking new offices, rather than maintaining consistent accountability.
The senator, who ran alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, challenged the notion that these leaders represent a robust opposition, urging for a more principled and sustained approach to challenging governance failures for the benefit of Nigerians.