Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has once again called for a significant generational shift in Nigeria’s political leadership, emphasizing that the country cannot continue recycling the same faces if it hopes to achieve meaningful progress and address its longstanding challenges. His remarks come amid ongoing debates about political succession and the dominance of veteran politicians in the country’s electoral landscape.
Speaking on Friday, Datti reflected on his lengthy political encounters with former Vice President and long-time presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, highlighting that the former PDP candidate has been actively seeking the nation’s top office for decades. Datti used his personal political journey as a lens to critique the stagnation and repetitiveness in Nigerian politics, stressing that fresh leadership is needed to tackle the country’s worsening socio-economic problems.
Datti calls for generational shift in Nigerian politics
He argued that the leadership crisis in Nigeria is partly a result of older political figures refusing to step aside and allow younger, more dynamic leaders to assume positions of responsibility. According to Datti, this reluctance to cede power perpetuates a cycle of repeated ambitions by the same politicians, leaving little room for innovative ideas and solutions that can address Nigeria’s evolving challenges.
Datti recounted his experiences in Nigerian politics, saying, “When I was doing my NYSC, Baba Atiku was an aspirant, and in 2018 we contested primaries together. In 2023, we contested again. I, as a vice president elsewhere, when his vice president had left him. And for God’s sake, in 2027 again?” His words underline his concern that the repeated pursuit of power by long-standing politicians may be hindering the emergence of new leadership capable of driving real change.
He also questioned the sustainability of repeated presidential bids by the same individuals, pointing to Nigeria’s deepening social and economic challenges as evidence that the country needs leaders with fresh perspectives. “Nigeria’s problems are not the result of a lack of politicians; they are the result of a lack of innovative leadership willing to confront issues directly,” Datti stated. He maintained that the nation requires new ideas, energy, and bold thinking rather than recycled ambitions rooted in old political calculations.
“There is need for a new generation of Nigerian leaders, and they do exist. A whole new generation are waiting for a new leader to lead them to a new party,” he added, calling on emerging leaders to step forward and seize the opportunity to reshape the country’s political future. Datti emphasized that millions of young Nigerians are eager for honest, selfless leadership that prioritizes national interest over personal ambition or entrenched political alliances.
Ex-LP vice-presidential candidate urges new leaders to emerge
Datti also criticised the structural challenges within Nigeria’s political system, describing it as hostile to credible and competent individuals who genuinely want to serve. He highlighted that many capable Nigerians are discouraged from participating in politics due to a combination of factors, including the dominance of political godfathers, prohibitive financial demands, and unfulfilled political promises that make the system appear treacherous and inaccessible to ordinary citizens.
He stressed that until these systemic barriers are addressed, the country will continue to lose out on the contributions of its best minds, leaving leadership positions largely in the hands of a few familiar faces. “Nigeria is not short of talent, but it is suffering from a leadership bottleneck that prevents new voices from emerging,” Datti said, emphasizing that the country’s potential remains underutilized because of entrenched political practices.
The former lawmaker concluded by reiterating that meaningful change in Nigeria will only occur when a new generation is allowed to assume responsibility for shaping the country’s future. He called on political parties, civil society, and citizens to support reforms that create opportunities for younger, capable leaders to emerge, and to ensure that leadership is reflective of the aspirations and potential of the Nigerian populace. According to Datti, the country needs honest, selfless leaders who can unite Nigerians and confront deep-rooted social, economic, and political challenges with vision, courage, and integrity.
He warned that without such a generational shift, Nigeria risks continued stagnation, repeated cycles of failed leadership, and the perpetuation of policies that do not adequately address the needs of the people. The call for a new generation of leaders, Datti emphasized, is not just about age, but about vision, competence, and the willingness to place the nation’s interests above personal ambition.