Tinubu appoints Peter Obi’s running mate’s brother Hakeem Baba-Ahmed as Special Adviser

Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum has been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the special adviser on political affairs to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

His appointment will come as a shock to many as he has been a critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration over the years.

He made his appointment in a post on X on Monday, September 17.

He wrote: "It is time to make it public that I have accepted the call to serve as Special Adviser (Political) to the VP, @KShettim.

"This is not the time for fence-sitting or criticism when you can be useful in turning the country round. I am honored and humbled. Please pray for me & Nigeria"

The appointment of Baba-Ahmed might likely raise eyebrows as he is the elder brother of Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party presidential running mate of Peter Obi, an arch-rival of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It will be the second person the presidency is poaching from the camp of Yusuf Datti after the appointment of Professor Tahir Mamman as the Minister of Education.

Professor Mamman, before his appointment, was the Vice Chancellor of the famous Baze University, Abuja, which Yusuf Datti owns.

It is time to make it public that I have accepted the call to serve as Special Adviser (Political) to the VP, @KShettim .This is not the time for fence-sitting or criticism when you can be useful in turning the country round. I am honored and humbled. Please pray for me & Nigeria

— Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed. (@baba_hakeem) September 18, 2023