Datti Baba-Ahmed, Frm. Vice Presidential Candidate, Labour Party
Datti Baba-Ahmed Recalls 2011 Rift with Buhari Over Violent Rhetoric
In a striking revelation that has stirred political discourse, Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has recounted his decision to distance himself from former President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2011 elections, citing concerns over inflammatory remarks made by the late leader.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Baba-Ahmed revisited a moment that, for him, marked a moral and political turning point.
According
to Baba-Ahmed, he was contesting for a Senate seat in Kaduna State in 2011
under the same political platform as Buhari. However, he chose to halt his
campaign activities after Buhari made a controversial statement suggesting that
“you will all be soaked in blood.” The remark, which was widely interpreted as
a threat of post-election violence, coincided with a period of intense unrest
in Kaduna, where homes were burned and lives disrupted. Baba-Ahmed said the
comment deeply unsettled him, prompting a principled decision to withdraw from
joint campaign efforts, even at the risk of losing his seat, though he
ultimately won.
He
further alleged that the desperation to remove then-President Goodluck Jonathan
in 2015 led to the importation of foreign elements from neighboring countries,
contributing to the insecurity that continues to plague Nigeria. Baba-Ahmed
argued that the seeds of today’s instability were sown during that period, with
political actors exploiting religion, ethnicity, and violence as tools to seize
power.
The
former senator’s remarks have reignited scrutiny of Buhari’s legacy,
particularly his controversial statements and the role they may have played in
shaping Nigeria’s political climate. Baba-Ahmed’s account paints a picture of a
politician who chose principle over party loyalty, refusing to align with
rhetoric that, in his view, endangered national unity and peace.
As
Nigeria grapples with ongoing security challenges, Baba-Ahmed’s reflections
serve as a sobering reminder of how political language and ambition can ripple
through society with lasting consequences. His decision to speak out
underscores the importance of accountability and ethical leadership in a nation
still healing from the wounds of its electoral past.
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