Hakeem Baba-Ahmed gave President Tinubu some tough advice about his political future. The former presidential adviser told Tinubu he cannot afford to ignore Northern Nigeria. Baba-Ahmed said the president must keep Vice President Kashim Shettima on his team. He explained that Tinubu desperately needs Northern votes to win again during the next election. The warning came during a television interview about upcoming political battles.
Shettima stands as the top Northern leader working for Tinubu right away. Baba-Ahmed pointed out that the vice president represents millions of people from that region. The president comes from Southern Nigeria and needs someone from the North to balance things out. Removing Shettima would send a bad message to Northern voters. Many people would think Tinubu does not care about their concerns.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket helped Tinubu become president during the last election. Baba-Ahmed reminded everyone that this religious partnership brought victory. Changing course would upset the same voters who supported him before. Northern Christians would not trust a leader who abandons his Muslim running mate. The former adviser called such a move a terrible mistake.
Tinubu faces real challenges with Northern support right away. Some Muslim leaders have already turned against his policies. Baba-Ahmed warned that fighting back would only make things worse. The president needs Northern voters to stay in power after 2027. Smart politics means keeping friends close rather than making new enemies.
Shettima stands as the top Northern leader working for Tinubu right away. Baba-Ahmed pointed out that the vice president represents millions of people from that region. The president comes from Southern Nigeria and needs someone from the North to balance things out. Removing Shettima would send a bad message to Northern voters. Many people would think Tinubu does not care about their concerns.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket helped Tinubu become president during the last election. Baba-Ahmed reminded everyone that this religious partnership brought victory. Changing course would upset the same voters who supported him before. Northern Christians would not trust a leader who abandons his Muslim running mate. The former adviser called such a move a terrible mistake.
Tinubu faces real challenges with Northern support right away. Some Muslim leaders have already turned against his policies. Baba-Ahmed warned that fighting back would only make things worse. The president needs Northern voters to stay in power after 2027. Smart politics means keeping friends close rather than making new enemies.
