Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide in the Office of the Vice President, has opened up about his time in the Tinubu administration, describing it as a disappointing chapter in his public service journey.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV, Baba-Ahmed said he had entered government with high hopes and a desire to contribute meaningfully to national development. However, his expectations were not met.

“I joined with great expectations,” he shared, “but the experience turned out to be disappointing.”

When asked whether Vice President Kashim Shettima was being sidelined by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Baba-Ahmed dismissed such claims. “No, I didn’t see any of these,” he said, adding that his decision to step down was based on personal reflections, not political tension.

He explained that the perceived marginalisation of the vice presidency is not unique to the current administration. “If the president feels that the office of the vice president is not that important in the administration—and we have seen that many times—basically, that was what I met,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also highlighted the lack of defined schedules for vice presidents, despite their status as the nation’s second-highest-ranking officials, noting that this has been a recurring issue across administrations.

Despite seeing and speaking with the Vice President almost daily, Baba-Ahmed emphasised that the role demands more than just conversations.

He disclosed that he barely had opportunities to interact with President Tinubu, stating, “I only saw President Tinubu three times in the mosque in the presidential villa. But I had never had a chance to sit down and talk with President Tinubu. I think part of the problem is that Tinubu never had time for people like us. I don’t think he had time for a lot of people working for him,” he added.

Baba-Ahmed described the president as “really and genuinely isolated,” whether by choice or circumstance, and stressed that this isolation poses a challenge for the country.

“The bottom line is, he ought to be available for the people he trusted and worked for him. And that’s the problem for the country, not for him,” he said.

Reflecting on the state of the nation, Baba-Ahmed expressed concern over the growing despair among citizens. “We work in the Villa and we go home and meet the people, and we know how the country is—how desperate people are, the difficult lives, the insecurity. People are losing hope, asking what is the value of this democracy. And sometimes people ask what are we doing there? Asking us, are we really advising the president about some of these things?”

He also emphasised the importance of having capable advisors addressing real issues, stating, “If the president has a quality of people talking and advising him about the real issues on the ground, I think the country would be better.”

Baba-Ahmed also expressed serious misgivings about the current coalitions of political parties, distancing himself from the movement and stating that he hopes not to be part of such coalitions in the future.

A prominent business executive and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, has been “arrested” by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to her legal team.

Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, made this known in a statement to Nairametrics on Tuesday, stressing that “Aisha Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested by the EFCC” around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

Nairametrics previously reported that Achimugu’s lawyer had informed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday that their client had already stated in her court documents that she would visit the EFCC today in connection with its ongoing investigation into an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has heartily congratulated Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo on his emergence as the Chairman of the newly inaugurated Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council.

This was contained in a statement issued by governor’s spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Monday.

Governor Yusuf described Dangambo’s election as a significant step towards strengthening professionalism and ethical journalism in the digital media space.

He commended the leadership of the NUJ Kano Council under the able leadership of Comrade Sulieman Dederi for the successful establishment of the Online Media Chapel, which he said will complement the efforts of traditional media in promoting truth, fairness, and integrity.

The Governor expressed confidence that under Dangambo’s leadership, the Online Media Chapel would set a new standard for responsible and development-driven journalism in Kano State and beyond.

He assured of his administration’s continued support for initiatives that promote credible information dissemination, media development, and the unity of practitioners.

Governor Yusuf wished Comrade Dangambo and the entire executive council a successful and impactful tenure, urging them to work diligently in fostering professionalism, building capacity, and enhancing the role of online journalism in the state’s growth and progress.