“Why Nigeria’s Economic Troubles Didn’t Come as a Surprise”— Datti Baba-Ahmed
Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, stated that neither he nor the Labour Party is surprised by the current economic difficulties in Nigeria.
Datti mentioned that they had warned the public against letting the All Progressives Congress (APC) take power in 2023.
He made these comments during the first meeting of the Labour Party Interim National Caretaker Committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
Representing Peter Obi at the event, Baba-Ahmed expressed that the Labour Party is prepared to achieve even greater success in the 2027 elections by securing a majority in the National Assembly and winning the presidency.
He said, “We didn’t experience a crisis. We managed a transition that was a bit rocky, but that’s it. No other party of our size could handle it as we did in that time. We took our 10 million votes to the Supreme Court, though they only recognized 6 million.
“We are a major force in Africa. What we’ve accomplished is unprecedented. While the PDP had the military when they started, we had nothing.
“Our movement was grassroots-driven. It was the Nigerian people, the obedient supporters, who helped us defeat two established political parties and fight our case in court.
“What’s more, we’re seeing the failures we predicted about the APC: worsening economic conditions, declining security, and ongoing abductions and killings.
“We warned Nigerians about these issues, but the Labour Party’s victory was mishandled. The currency value is down, security is deteriorating, hunger is widespread, and the removal of fuel subsidies was poorly managed, leading to increased corruption and lies.”
He also addressed the leadership dispute within the party, clarifying that Julius Abure was not removed by any governor but was instead replaced by the party’s constitution due to the end of his term.
Baba-Ahmed urged Abure and his team to reconcile and work with the Caretaker Committee to rebuild the party.
“No governor removed Abure; it was the constitution that did. His term ended. As of today, Abure remains a valued member of the party.
“We want him back and have roles for him. Former NEC and NWC members are also welcome to rejoin us and help build the Labour Party.”
