Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, has resigned.
Baba-Ahmed, formerly the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) was appointed in September 2023, an appointment that drew public suspicion given that the former Federal Permanent Secretary was a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu.
As per report in general circulation, he dropped his resignation letter two weeks ago.
Recall that while still serving this government, Baba-Ahmed and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle had an open altercation.
The exchange flowed from Matawalle describing NEF as “paperweight” for criticising President Tinubu administration.
The former governor attack of the Northern group received push back from Baba-Ahmed who openly replied: “Scathing criticism of NEF by the junior minister of defence, Matawalle, is ill-advised. He could have done a better job for this administration if he identified contributions of especially northern ministers and other appointees like me to improving security and reducing poverty in the North.”
Not letting slide, Matawalle fired back saying in his reprisal attack that those from the North serving this government must be seen to rise to its defence.
“Dr Baba-Ahmed’s relationship and affinity with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is well known.
“As an appointee of this administration, it is his responsibility to work for its success, protect and defend the government against unjust and vicious attacks from those who hide under ethnic and other primordial interests to heat up the polity for myopic reasons.
“Every appointee of President Tinubu, including Dr. Baba-Ahmed, owes the government a duty to promote, elucidate, and advance its good works and commendable efforts across all sectors.
“As appointees from the North, we must take a stand, be unequivocal, and be counted among those working for the success of this administration. This is not the time to keep quiet in the face of intimidation and misrepresentation of the efforts and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the junior minister maintained.
