Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said he has no regrets about being Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election, insisting that the decision was based on the need to promote unity, forgiveness and trust in Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed spoke on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the Bala AbdulKadir Mohammed Colloquium, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi, to commemorate the 68th birthday of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, Baba-Ahmed said his decision to support Obi was driven by his conviction that fundamental questions about Nigeria’s leadership and democratic future needed to be addressed.
He said, “Up till today, I have no regrets supporting Peter Obi. Fundamental questions were answered. He is a Nigerian, he is in the constitutional line to sit. That is the doctrine. In the same way that Nora stood for the doctrine of necessity because people’s rights were threatened, society’s fate was questioned. I stood for Nigeria in 2023 to need to show forgiveness, and unity, and trust in each other.”
The former vice-presidential candidate said Nigerians must also develop the courage to oppose oppression and injustice, stressing that leaders should not merely be celebrated but encouraged to use their positions to protect the people.
He said, “There is a duty in appreciating leaders. Why you appreciate leaders is not to massage their ego. What is even more important is to educate others to appreciate, understand, see, and imbibe those single qualities. Nigeria is in need of leaders.”
Baba-Ahmed also spoke about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, saying the separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms of government had been weakened, leaving the National Assembly struggling to effectively perform its constitutional role.
He said Nigerians must begin to stand up for themselves and demand a system that genuinely serves the people, rather than one controlled by a few powerful individuals.
“Why can’t the Nigerian people unite? Why can’t the Nigerian people work together? Why can’t the Nigerian people not stand for themselves, stand for themselves, fight for themselves?” he asked.
He further called for an end to what he described as the growing culture of oppression, saying both leaders and citizens had a responsibility to confront injustice.
Baba-Ahmed said, “The point is that we detest oppression. We detest cheating. We hate bullying. We need leaders that will stop it. Because now, oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigeria. Accepting oppression is getting into the DNA of Nigerian people.”
He also urged Nigerians to support leaders who are willing to speak against injustice, saying the country would benefit from public officials who could defend the rights of citizens even when doing so could put their positions at risk.