
The director, publicity and advocacy, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, lowered the bar of governance in the country.
He said the “woeful performance” of the former president will never be matched by any president.
Mr Baba-Ahmed stated this in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper on Saturday.
The elder statesman also advised President Bola Tinubu not to overburden the citizens with his policies, noting that Nigerians are already stretched.
“Eight years ago when President Buhari came, he cleared all checkpoints, removed Service Chiefs, and ordered the military to relocate to Borno, then Boko Haram was chased and limited substantially. These were greeted by the same euphoria. There was enthusiasm that he would fight corruption, insecurity, and a bad economy.
“But look at where we are now after eight years. We are worse than when he came in. Certainly, the entire country had not been in the situation before. So, forgive me if the Northern Elders Forum has a different perspective on the euphoria as a result of the tentative action or salvo being released by President Tinubu against the economy, corruption and service chiefs, and others. I will rather exercise some reservations.
“It is good he is starting with some policies, but he has to be very careful, he should not rush into putting in policies just because he wants to be different from Buhari. By all means, any worse government will be better than Buhari’s government of misrule, indifference, and incompetence.
“I am sorry if I don’t share your enthusiasm [about Tinubu]. I will rather advise him to be different from Buhari, and address those issues that need to be addressed with courage and sensitivity. Buhari has lowered the bar of governance and lowered our status of existence; insecurity and poverty are more pronounced,” Mr Baba-Ahmed added.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
Coalition: APC blames Nigeria’s extreme poverty, corruption, on Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the ADC, could not be reached for response to Mr Morka’s claim. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has blamed Nigeria’s misfortune, rising poverty, corruption and economic stagnation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, and other members of the newly formed coalition. Felix Morka,…
The North Will Celebrate Me If I Am President — Peter Obi
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The presidential hopeful implored the people of Northern Nigeria to trust him with their votes, saying he understands the challenges plaguing their region. 2027 presidential aspirant Peter Obi says the northern region of Nigeria will celebrate him if he becomes president. According to him, the greatest asset Nigeria has is in the…
Ohanaeze to Tinubu: Igbos won’t trade Nnamdi Kanu’s freedom for your re-election
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned President Bola Tinubu that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must not be tied to political support from the southeast in the 2027 elections. In a statement issued on Sunday, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president-general of the apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, said…