Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has renewed his call for a generational change in Nigeria’s political leadership, insisting that the country urgently needs fresh faces to tackle its deep-seated challenges.
Datti made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Channels Television, where he reflected on his long political history alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, Atiku’s presidential ambition dates back several decades, recalling that the former vice president was already an aspirant when he was still serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“When I was doing my NYSC, Baba Atiku was already an aspirant. In 2018, we contested in the primaries together,” Datti said.
He noted that they met again on the political field during the 2023 general election, where he ran as a vice-presidential candidate on a different platform.
“In 2023, we contested again, I was a vice-presidential candidate elsewhere, at a time when his vice president had left him. And for God’s sake, in 2027 again?” he added.
The Labour Party chieftain argued that Nigeria can no longer afford recycled leadership, stressing that a new generation of leaders is both available and willing to serve.
“Nigeria needs a new generation of leaders, and they exist. A whole generation of Nigerians is waiting for a new leader who can lead them into a new political movement,” he said.
Datti also criticised the country’s political structure, describing it as expensive, discouraging, and controlled by godfathers, which he said pushes many competent Nigerians away from public service.
“There are capable Nigerians who can fix this country, but they are discouraged by a system that is costly, difficult, treacherous, and full of godfathers and broken promises,” he stated.
Datti clarified that he has not declared any intention to run for president, dismissing recent reports suggesting otherwise as false.
He concluded by reiterating that Nigeria’s progress depends on credible leadership and a political system that allows competent citizens to participate meaningfully.
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