The special adviser on political matters to Vice-President Kashim Shettima Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has resigned from his position.
The former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) reportedly tendered his resignation two weeks ago, though the news has only just emerged.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu in September 2023, Baba-Ahmed’s tenure as special adviser lasted less than a year. He is the elder brother of Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections. Prior to his role with Shettima, Baba-Ahmed served as Chief of Staff to Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President, from 2017 to 2019.
The resignation comes amid growing political tensions, particularly after a public spat with Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence. In April 2024, Matawalle criticized the NEF, calling it a “political paperweight” after the forum claimed the North made a mistake by voting for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
Baba-Ahmed responded sharply to Matawalle’s remarks, suggesting that it would have been more productive for the minister to highlight the achievements of northern appointees, including himself, rather than attacking the NEF. Baba-Ahmed argued that such criticisms were misplaced and detrimental to the administration’s efforts.
Matawalle fired back, stating that it was the duty of all appointees, including Baba-Ahmed, to defend and promote the administration they served. He emphasized that the role of northern appointees was to support President Tinubu’s government and advance its objectives, or consider stepping down if they could not align with the administration.
Baba-Ahmed’s resignation marks the end of his brief but tumultuous role in Shettima’s office. The move highlights the underlying political divides and the challenges faced by some northern appointees in balancing their regional loyalties with their responsibilities to the federal government.
