If President Tinubu truly has competent advisers and understands the weight of leadership, he should have addressed the nation by now. This is not the time for ministers or aides to speak on his behalf.
According to GUARDIAN reporting, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Hakeem Baba‑Ahmed, has publicly urged the President to directly address Nigerians amid heightened tensions with the United States. In a post on his verified Facebook account on Thursday, Baba-Ahmed expressed concern over what he described as the “prolonged silence” by the presidency. “If President Tinubu truly has competent advisers and understands the weight of leadership, he should have addressed the nation by now. This is not the time for ministers or aides to speak on his behalf,” he wrote. He warned that the absence of a public statement “makes the country appear weak, as though we have no voice or direction.”
Baba-Ahmed also weighed in on reports that President Tinubu may consider travelling to the United States to meet Donald Trump, stating: “At this critical moment, Tinubu should not even think of travelling to America to meet Donald Trump. Doing so would only worsen Nigeria’s image. It would be like receiving a slap and then smiling in return.” He further criticised delays in appointing ambassadors, arguing that Nigeria’s global engagement has suffered: “We have said it over and over again, appoint ambassadors! Right now, many countries barely engage with Nigeria because we lack official diplomatic representation. A country without ambassadors is practically invisible in global affairs,” he said.
According to GUARDIAN reporting, he concluded with an appeal: “If Tinubu truly listens to those who care about this nation, he must act now, appoint ambassadors, restore Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, and speak directly to the people he governs.”