He described Obi and other politicians as “political travellers” who were “gifted a presidential ticket.”
Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has taken a veiled swipe at his former principal, Peter Obi, following Obi’s defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
He described Obi and other politicians as “political travellers” who were “gifted a presidential ticket.”
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Wednesday while declaring his intention to run for president.
He said, “The June 2027 salaries of public servants, especially security personnel and teachers, will be four times as is currently being paid. Please, please hear me again. Nigeria can afford it.”
Addressing security personnel and teachers, Baba-Ahmed added, “My good friend, the police constable, the army private, the teachers that are looked down at. I think they should and I know they should and I’m able to ensure that they will earn nothing less than four times what they are being paid today in June 2027.”
He insisted that he remains in the Labour Party, saying, “I have not left Labour Party because Labour Party won a presidential election.”
Baba-Ahmed further stated, “I have not left Labour Party because I am not satisfied with a coalition of disgruntled politicians who could not even challenge 2023 constitutional breaches. I will not leave Labour Party because of the promise it holds.”
Throwing a challenge to other presidential hopefuls, he said, “All major aspirants, and I mean all, I challenge to be shown one, just one, among the major aspirants, only one, that has never been in a ruling party.”
He declared, “I am that one. I have never been in a ruling party. The records are there for you to see.”
Baba-Ahmed added that he had no intention of joining any ruling party, stating, “I never wish to join any ruling party, except one that by God’s grace, that government that we’re going to form.”
He reiterated his loyalty to the Labour Party, saying, “I therefore remain a loyal Labour Party member and I make myself available to fix Nigeria. Nigerians know the truth.”
He continued, “Nigerians, we know the truth. Nigerians, please use the truth.”
Emphasising his independence, Baba-Ahmed said, “I am my own boss. Simple. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory. I’m not stepping into anybody’s shoes.”
He also claimed he had presidential ambitions before Peter Obi, saying, “Before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi aspired for presidency, I aspired for presidency before him. The records are there for you to see.”
Recounting events from 2018, he said, “In October 2018, I attended the primaries of PDP in Port Harcourt. And I walked to Governor Peter Obi and I said, please can I have your vote? And he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.”
He added, “So forgive me, your question is not even relevant because it does not pertain to me. I aspired to presidency before His Excellency Peter Obi.”
On the ongoing defections, Baba-Ahmed said neither he nor the Labour Party was responsible, stating, “In this defection case, neither my humble self nor the Labour Party are the aggressors. A group of political travellers welcomed in 2022 with a presidential ticket continued with their journey. Simple.”
He urged supporters to focus on facts, saying, “This is the facts to keep in mind in anticipation of the ever-hostile online attitudes.”
Highlighting the party’s achievements, he said, “With all humility, Labour Party confronts its successes in the presence of financial difficulties in an era of perfected electoral fraud.”
According to him, “Labour Party produced a state governor, eight senators, about 40 House of Reps.”