By Bassey Udo
The Labour Party presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has unveiled Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a Senator, 53, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential elections.
At the formal unveiling of Baba-Ahmed in Abuja on Friday, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to work with him and all Nigerians to halt the country’s drift in all aspects of our lives.
He said the nomination of his running mate was laying a solid foundation for all Nigerians to be involved in the political process to bring to an end the primitive politics based on ethnicity, religion and all sorts of negative sentiments that have kept the country divided.
“Show me where in the North or South that there is uninterrupted electricity supply; where people are not hungry or there is no poverty, or people are prospering, industry growing and there is no unemployment. None!” he said
He said the Obi-Baba-Ahmed ticket was committed to replace all these with politics of competence, merit and service.
Having successfully completed the phase of nomination of his running mate and vice-presidential candidate, Obi pledged to assemble a team of Nigerians who would join in building a new Nigeria that would give people faith and hope.
On the next step in his campaign, Obi said in the new few days he would sit with his Deputy to come up with policies and a manifesto that would be anchored on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations to rescue the country from poverty.
He said the agenda of administration if elected would be to ensure the country was secured, Unified and productive, pointing out that he and his Deputy were young, energetic and prepared to unleash the ingenuity, resourcefulness and energy of young Nigerians to realise that objective.
“We are committed to turning all the vast uncultivated lands in the North and across the country into the oil of the future. We must unlock the new asset – land, and make it work for Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, Baba-Ahmed thanked God, and indeed Obi, for the confidence reposed in him with the nomination, assuring that he was committed to be part of the team to rescue Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed said he could not afford not to be part of the movement to rescue the country from the brink, saying apart from his believe in one Nigeria, he believed peace and prosperity would return to the country if the people unite and join forces to salvage.
“I see, a better future for Nigeria if we unite. I see hope in Peter Obi as the President. He who believes in financial propriety will not engage in political rascality. He who believes in credibility and integrity, no matter who he is associated with, will ot mismanage his personal and human relationships. Without any reservations, I accept the nomination as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 elections,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Profile
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a Senator, is a 53 year old academic, businessman and politician, who served as a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007.
In April 2011, was elected Senator for Kaduna North senatorial district of Kaduna State on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change.
During his tenure, he set a remarkable record of one of the few members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly as one of the most active lawmakers, with the sponsorship of some of the most important legislations.
Baba-Ahmed is a holder of a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Economics from the University of Maiduguri, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales, Cardiff, in addition to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of West minster in 2006.
He did his National Youth Service Corps at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun state, from where he proceeded to work as Projects Coordinator, Baze Research and Data Services Limited. and later as Officer II in the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Lagos.
Also, he worked briefly as a Banking Officer with First Bank of Nigeria Plc between July 1997 and December 1998, before emerging the Managing Director of Baze Research and Data Services Limited from July 1999 to January 2003. He later left to join politics representing Kaduna North Senatorial District of Kaduna State.
In 2011, Baba-Ahmed established Baze University, an Abuja-based private University through which he used to contribute towards helping fix the declining education system in Nigeria.
In 2015, Baba-Ahmed was appointed as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Hope Alive Foundation – which campaigns for post-service economic survival of corps members who suffered permanent disability during service. He is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Baze University; Managing Director, Baze Research & Data Service Ltd; Chairman, Baze Construction Ltd.
