Former Presidential aide, Bashir Ahmed, has raised concern over the escalating political tensions in the country, warning that Nigeria is drifting into dangerous territory fueled by “reckless narratives” and manipulated sentiments.
In a strongly worded post on his X account, Ahmed questioned why some groups appear determined to inflame the national atmosphere simply because of the individuals presently holding power. He argued that if dissatisfaction is truly about leadership choices, the democratic remedy remains the ballot box—not a climate of provocation.
According to him, Nigeria has already witnessed how divisive messaging shaped the 2023 elections. He noted that President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and the APC did not run a campaign anchored on religion or fearmongering. They did not “tour mosques preaching religious fear,” he said, but sold competence, experience, and regional balance.
Ahmed contrasted this with what he described as Peter Obi’s strategy, accusing the former Labour Party candidate of hopping “from church to church,” framing the polls as a religious battle and openly soliciting clerical influence to sway congregations.
He expressed surprise that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket—originally perceived as a Yoruba/Kanuri alliance symbolising diversity—has now been reduced in public discourse to nothing more than a “Muslim/Muslim” label. Ethnicity, which many once insisted should outweigh religion, has suddenly vanished from the narrative, he lamented.
For Nigeria to move forward, Ahmed stressed, politics must be anchored on truth, fairness, and responsible messaging. The country, he maintained, cannot afford to be steered by agenda-driven distortions designed to inflame emotions.
“Nigeria deserves better,” he declared, calling on citizens to rise above divisive rhetoric and recommit to the democratic process rather than fueling unnecessary tensions.
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