By Charles Pemu 
In a bold and politically charged statement, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has declared that no candidate can win Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election without the decisive backing of the North.
Speaking during a viral video interview in Kaduna over the weekend, Baba-Ahmed — a prominent figure in the Northern Elders Forum — made it clear that the North is prepared to shape the political landscape of the country in the coming months.
“In the next six months, the North will decide where it stands. If the rest of the country wants to join us, fine. If not, we will go our own way,” he declared.
“But one thing is certain: nobody becomes President of Nigeria without northern support.”
Joining him in the discussion was Professor Usman Yusuf, former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), as they both highlighted the urgency for the region to strategize ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We Are Tired of Crying”
Baba-Ahmed did not shy away from criticizing the current state of national affairs. Reflecting on the past eight years under President Buhari and the ongoing challenges under the current administration, he challenged fellow northerners to demand more from political leadership.
“We want a government that understands our problems and can address them,” he said.
“After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now we are in another government, and we are still crying. Is crying all we know how to do?”
The seasoned statesman called on the North to resist politicians who sow division and prey on ethnic or religious sentiments. Drawing from the North’s bitter experience during the Boko Haram insurgency, which devastated communities across religious and ethnic lines — including Muslims, Christians, Fulani, and Baju — Baba-Ahmed urged for unity and a renewed sense of political purpose.
“We have all suffered — this isn’t the time to fall for deception. The North must rise with clarity, unity, and wisdom,” he concluded.