Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed Quits as VP’s Political Adviser Due to Tensions in Tinubu’s Government Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a Special Adviser on Political Affairs in the Vice President’s Office, has quit his position in President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Daily Trust was told by presidency sources that Baba-Ahmed had submitted his resignation about two weeks ago. It is not clear whether the presidency has accepted it formally. He was appointed in September 2023, Baba-Ahmed being a former Northern Elders Forum (NEF) spokesperson.
Under the Vice President Kashim Shettima, he worked actively. Under him, working, he kept appearing regularly at national discussions and politics, highly placed at the January 2025 national conference under the theme of “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Pathway to Good Governance and Political Integrity.”
Though he brought great political experience and standing to the office, Baba-Ahmed’s tenure was not without incident. In April 2024, he was involved in a public fight with Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle. The altercation arose after Baba-Ahmed publicly defended the NEF, which Matawalle had openly called a “political paperweight.”.
Baba-Ahmed shot back by asking the minister to focus more on his work performance than taking jabs at reputable institutions.
The exchange was preceded by broader debates about loyalty in the administration, with Matawalle accusing Baba-Ahmed and other northern appointees of not doing enough to promote the success of the Tinubu-led administration.
All President Tinubu appointees, including Dr. Baba-Ahmed, owe a duty to the government to advertise, expound, and propagate its good works and praiseworthy activities in all respects,” Matawalle had said.
