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Tinubu’s ex-adviser writes him to step aside in 2027

Published

1 year ago

April 27, 2025

Hakeem Baba Ahmed

Tinubu’s ex-adviser writes him to step aside in 2027

A former Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, has written President Bola Tinubu to ask him to “step aside (in 2027) not for your opponents but for a generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas”.

The letter: Your Excellency, Mr. President, I had hoped I would have the opportunity to meet you one-on-one for the first time since you approved my appointment as Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of the Vice President about 18 months ago. It would have afforded me an excellent opportunity to offer what might have been the only significant advice I could give you directly in return for the salary you paid me. I had also hoped that an audience with you would provide the chance to explain why I insist on resigning, despite efforts to dissuade me by the Vice President, some Ministers, key officials in your administration, and a host of people I hold in the highest esteem. Well, all that is now history.

Still, please allow me to thank you for approving my appointment and for the privilege of serving my country once again as a public officer. To be honest, for someone at 70 who did not campaign for you, is not a member of your party, and who had gained some reputation for sustained criticism of your APC predecessor’s eight years of deeply damaging governance, your approval that I should come on board gave the impression of a willingness to tolerate inclusiveness and diversity, as well as some regard for merit. I am particularly grateful to the Vice President, who went to great lengths to convince me that staying in place was a better option than resigning.

I must be honest in saying I had many misgivings about accepting the invitation in the first place. Your “Emi Lokan” mantra suggested to me a worrying desire to lead, driven mainly by the urge to satisfy personal ambition. I felt that after the Buhari misadventure—for which the country continues to pay a steep price—the last thing we needed was another leader driven purely by a personal quest for power. Many well-meaning people advised me that I would not fit into your administration for various reasons, the most common being that you might end up as Buhari 2.0—or worse—and I would shift from being a vocal critic to an active or silent collaborator.

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It was tempting to sit it out and wait—either to critique you if you failed to provide the leadership the nation needs or commend you if you succeeded in turning the country around. In the end, I thought it better to help put out the fire than curse those who lit it. I joined your administration as an Adviser with my eyes wide open, at the cost of valuable relationships and under intense hostility from social media ‘politicians’ who assume every political appointee is in it for personal gain (read: lots of money, most of it stolen).

Vision

My long career in the federal public service taught me that the Office of the Presidency has a long-standing tradition of treating the Vice President’s office at best as a constitutional liability, and at worst, as a suspicious appendage constantly scheming to take the number one position. When you pushed the nation into the deep end with your inaugural announcement on subsidy removal, a few of us with experience in policy design and public administration knew the country would need the best hands to manage massive change and transition.

You inherited a badly damaged economy and a severely stressed population. Without a clear and sustained vision, and failing to translate the May 29 momentum into consistent leadership, your administration was bound to face turbulence. The idea of another four or eight years of poor governance after Buhari’s era was too alarming to contemplate. You needed some basic elements to succeed.

First, you needed a clear vision of your goals and the challenges you had to overcome. Unfortunately, it seemed you were too busy chasing political dominance, relying on your old Lagos circle to supplement a vision that was lacking. Your Renewed Hope Agenda is not a vision—it is a set of campaign promises, not a structured governance strategy worthy of your experience, however dated. You needed to appoint men and women who shared a compelling vision—not merely loyal party members and political jobbers. Your initial appointments reflected more politics than quality. Though there was some improvement later, the effort was tepid. As things stand, more than half your cabinet has no business managing an administration tasked with improving security, livelihoods, or public trust.

You needed to embody and uphold personal integrity, good health, and strong commitment to the demands of your office—hard work, fairness, and humility. Yet your closed-door style of leadership, your apparent indifference to complaints of ethnic bias in appointments, and the perception that you frequently run the country from abroad while attending to personal matters, have created the image of an isolated leader heading an insular administration.

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Your inner and secondary circles do not reflect the discipline or inspiration necessary to transform Nigeria. Pandering to political interests at the expense of good governance has deprived you of the tools to make a greater impact. You needed to act as a democrat in a federal system—something even the best global leaders struggle with. It appears your experience in governing Lagos, playing the kingmaker, and resisting premature power grabs did not prepare you for the complex demands of national leadership—balancing self-interest with the challenges of inclusive governance and statesmanship.

Between you and Buhari

You needed to create a balance between the past you wanted to reform and the future you hoped to shape. Instead, you’ve created a situation where citizens debate whether life under you is worse than under Buhari, or better only in economic jargon that doesn’t reflect their suffering. You needed to build a team driven by urgency, purpose, and a deep understanding of the scale of your mission—not one content with the routine and mediocrity inherited from the past. That team never materialised.

You needed a strong engagement strategy—one capable of building national consensus or at least neutralising hostility. Instead, you’ve appointed a crowd of spokespersons who often confuse rather than clarify your policies. You’ve ignored legitimate dissent, choosing instead to engineer a pliant legislature, thereby robbing the nation of robust democratic discourse. Your record on security and institutional reform is unimpressive.

These are harsh truths, Mr. President—but few will tell you even their diluted versions. Now your administration is being pushed toward prioritising the 2027 elections over governance. But improving governance, revisiting priorities, refining policies, instilling fiscal discipline, addressing grievances, combating insecurity and corruption, and fostering national unity should be your focus.

Two years is a long time—you can still achieve much. But if you shift attention now to electoral ambitions, you risk losing both governance momentum and public goodwill. If you win again without reforming your style and strategy, you may spend four more years preserving failure. If you lose, your legacy could be wiped out in an instant.

You hold what your opposition lacks: the power to reduce the harshness of life for the average Nigerian. Use it well. Watch 2027, yes—but don’t become consumed by it. The North is drifting from your leadership under the weight of economic hardship, insecurity, and alienation. The East remains politically disengaged, while the South-South is fragmented. The South West has been lukewarm, and its privileged position may become a burden. The North East is deeply wounded and can no longer be taken for granted.

Step aside

Mr. President, I urge you to reflect deeply on the legacy you want to leave and how history will remember you. Insisting on running for a second term could be a grave mistake. Your name is already etched in Nigeria’s history. Use the time until 2027 to shape your legacy—not just extend your tenure.

Step aside—not for your opponents, but for a new generation of Nigerians who can carry the nation forward with fresh energy and ideas. Our generation has done its time. It would be a masterstroke if you and your party yielded the field to new voices and new leadership. That way, you could catalyse a peaceful, historic transformation and inspire a new political culture rooted in merit, unity, and progress.

Mr. President, these and a few more thoughts are what I would have offered you in person. You do not have the reputation of being overly conservative. I hope you still possess the fire to challenge the status quo. Perhaps, this is the role destiny has prepared for you.

I offer this advice with sincerity and hope—believing that one leader can change the course of a nation. That leader could be you. Many who’ve worked with you say you mean well for Nigeria. That’s why I ask, respectfully and firmly: Mr. President, please do not run again in 2027.

Tinubu’s ex-adviser writes him to step aside in 2027

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Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

Published

11 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

Abeokuta, Ogun State – In a pre-dawn operation that has dismantled a major criminal network, police operatives in Ogun State have killed two suspected kidnappers and arrested a prominent Fulani community leader, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, over alleged ties to a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan road corridor.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that the operation also led to the arrest of Mohammed Bello, a suspected gang member, alongside the recovery of N1.5 million believed to be ransom proceeds, an AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, a single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and a black bag allegedly used for ransom transactions.

According to police sources, the operation stemmed from the kidnapping of three persons on May 11, 2026, in the Ipojo area of Iperin, Atan-Ijebu. The victims were released unharmed three days later after an unspecified ransom was paid.

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Acting on intelligence gathered after the victims’ release, operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by SP Bamidele Shittu stormed a suspected kidnappers’ camp along the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road axis at about 5:00 a.m. on May 15, 2026. On sighting the police operatives, the suspects opened fire, leading to a fierce gun duel. The operatives responded professionally, resulting in the neutralisation of two of the suspected kidnappers, while other gang members escaped into the forest with bullet injuries.

In a dramatic follow-up operation, police arrested Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, the Seriki Fulani of Ijebu Ode, who is also the father of one of the fleeing suspects. Sources told journalists that the investigation initially targeted Bala, Abdullahi’s son, who had reportedly just been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for kidnapping. Police sources further revealed that the black bag used for ransom delivery was allegedly recovered inside the kitchen of the Seriki’s residence, linking the community leader directly to the criminal network.

Among the items recovered from the gang are N1.5 million suspected to be ransom cash, one AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition, one single-barrel gun, several mobile phones, and one black bag used for ransom transactions.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the operatives for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience, reaffirming the command’s resolve to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the state. The bodies of the two slain suspects have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest other fleeing gang members, including Bala. Investigations are continuing to uncover the full network of the syndicate, and the police have assured that all those arrested will face prosecution.

Ogun Police Gun Down 2 Suspected Kidnappers

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Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Wife Abducted by Gunmen in Katsina

Published

11 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Wife Abducted by Gunmen in Katsina

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected armed bandits in Katsina State, in a fresh incident highlighting the worsening insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West region.

Sources familiar with the development said the retired senior military officer and his wife were kidnapped on Saturday while travelling to Katsina when heavily armed attackers intercepted their vehicle along the Matazu Local Government Area axis of the state.

The incident reportedly occurred along a stretch of road notorious for repeated attacks by armed criminal groups operating in parts of Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara State.

According to security sources, the attackers ambushed the couple’s vehicle and forcefully whisked them away to an unknown destination.

A source close to the matter disclosed that the retired general’s driver narrowly escaped the attack despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the incident.

“Maj. Gen. R. Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today. He was kidnapped along Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. His driver escaped with a gunshot injury,” the source said.

The source added that the retired officer’s vehicle, a red Peugeot 504, was later recovered and taken to the Nigeria Police Force divisional headquarters in Matazu.

“The senior officer’s Peugeot 504, red in colour, is parked at the Matazu Division of the Nigeria Police Force,” the source stated.

A separate alert reportedly circulated among military and security circles, allegedly forwarded by retired Brigadier General Sagir Musa, calling for urgent intervention by relevant security agencies.

The message appealed for immediate action to secure the safe rescue of the former military spokesperson and his wife.

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As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement confirming the abduction, while military authorities had also not publicly commented on the development.

However, security sources said search-and-rescue efforts had been initiated, with intelligence operatives and local security formations mobilised to track the abductors.

Major General Abubakar is a well-known retired military officer who served as Director of Defence Information, the arm of the Nigerian military responsible for strategic communications and media relations.

His reported abduction has triggered concern within military and security circles due to his status as a former top defence official.

The attack adds to a long list of kidnappings and violent assaults linked to armed bandit groups operating across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and parts of Kaduna State.

Matazu Local Government Area has witnessed recurring security breaches despite intensified military operations and surveillance in the region.

Katsina State, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained one of the worst-hit states by armed banditry, with criminal gangs frequently targeting communities, highways and high-profile individuals for ransom.

Over the years, both federal and state authorities have introduced military offensives, dialogue initiatives and local peace agreements aimed at ending the violence.

Several of these peace efforts, however, have collapsed amid repeated attacks and allegations that some criminal groups exploit negotiations to regroup and rearm.

Security analysts say the reported abduction of a retired major general further underscores the boldness of armed groups and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current counter-banditry strategies in the region.

Residents and stakeholders are now awaiting official confirmation and further updates on efforts to secure the release of the retired officer and his wife.

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Wife Abducted by Gunmen in Katsina

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Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Published

15 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Trends Admin

LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki

Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A driver has died after a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) lost control and overturned several times along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos State, marking the second major road fatality in the commercial capital within a 10-day period . The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Charity Bus Stop, inward Iyana Isolo , according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) , Adebayo Taofiq . The agency said preliminary findings showed that the Honda Pilot SUV suddenly veered out of control before overturning multiple times and coming to a devastating stop . The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the immediate death of the driver, whose body became trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the vehicle .

“Preliminary findings indicate that the Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) involved in the incident suddenly lost control, causing it to overturn multiple times before coming to a devastating halt. The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the instantaneous death of the driver, whose body became trapped within the severely mangled remains of the vehicle,” the statement read . LASTMA officials, who were carrying out traffic monitoring and management duties in the Iyana Isolo area at the time of the incident, responded swiftly to the emergency . The officers, working alongside personnel of the Mosafejo Police Division , successfully extricated the deceased from the wreckage while managing traffic flow and preventing secondary accidents along the busy corridor . Following the recovery operation, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the remains to a public mortuary in line with established public health procedures . The wrecked Honda Pilot SUV was subsequently handed over to officers of the Mosafejo Police Division, who have commenced investigations to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident.

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Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki , expressed sadness over the loss of life and extended condolences to the deceased’s family . He urged motorists across Lagos State to exercise caution while driving, obey speed limits, and adhere strictly to traffic regulations, particularly during late-night and early-morning journeys when visibility, alertness, and reaction times may be reduced . Bakare-Oki also warned against reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding, and other traffic violations that could lead to avoidable tragedies on the roads. “Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads. The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” he stated .

This tragic incident occurred just 10 days after a dispatch rider was killed by a trailer at the Ilupeju Bypass . It was gathered that the tragic crash happened after the dispatch rider reportedly engaged in a struggle for right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope” . In the process, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a moving articulated trailer along the busy Ilupeju corridor . The impact of the collision caused severe injuries, leading to the rider’s instant death at the scene . LASTMA officials successfully recovered the remains of the deceased rider trapped beneath the trailer while implementing measures to ease the heavy traffic congestion caused by the accident . Bakare-Oki had earlier warned about the rising rate of crashes involving dispatch riders, noting that over 862 crash victims involving dispatch riders were rescued through emergency interventions in 2025 alone . He identified several accident-prone routes including Eko Bridge, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Otedola Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway , and railway crossings around Ikeja, attributing the crashes to reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, fatigue, poor motorcycle maintenance, and phone use while riding.