The 2023 Labour Party Vice-Presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has attributed the deepening insecurity in Nigeria to the desperate bid to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today programme, Baba-Ahmed recalled the tense political climate preceding the 2015 elections, noting that the push to unseat Jonathan triggered violence and unrest that have spiraled into the current security crisis.
Baba-Ahmed shared personal experiences from his 2011 Senate campaign, highlighting a troubling security threat made by Muhammadu Buhari which foretold bloodshed, particularly in Kaduna State. He alleged that people were brought in from neighboring countries with the intent of destabilizing Nigeria to facilitate Jonathan's removal. He described the subsequent violence in Kaduna, including the burning of homes, as part of this orchestrated campaign.
His remarks suggest that the roots of Nigeria’s persistent insecurity lie in the political manipulation and heightened tensions of that period. Baba-Ahmed’s perspective calls attention to the long-term consequences of political conflicts on national security, urging a reflective approach to resolving Nigeria’s ongoing challenges.