Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has criticised Peter Obi over his pattern of leaving political parties due to internal crises.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday, Datti said a leader should not abandon a political platform because of internal disagreements, adding that such a stance raises questions about leadership consistency.
“Consistency is good. As much as I dislike what APC has been doing against Nigeria. But then, someone who got Labour Party ticket so easily should have stayed to fix the problems of the party, however difficult they were,” he said.
The former vice-presidential candidate said he had pushed for reconciliation within the party but was surprised to hear Obi state that he would walk away from situations where there is conflict.
“My boss, whom I believed in so much, said that wherever there’s a quarrel, he will walk away. So there’s a quarrel in Nigeria. Will he walk away? These are things that don’t add up,” he said.
POLITICS A CONTACT SPORT
Datti said leadership requires firmness and a willingness to confront challenges, especially in a country like Nigeria.
“A leader must be firm. However gentle you are as a leader, you must be willing to fight,” he said.
He added that political participation in Nigeria demands resilience, describing it as a “contact sport”.
“If you’re not ready to fight, don’t even come out. Stay in your house. You’re going into politics, which is a contact sport,” he said.
Datti also referenced the aftermath of the 2023 election, saying he was one of the few who challenged what he described as constitutional breaches.
“When they are going to steal your victory, you don’t allow it to happen. Clear constitutional breach. They left only one person, me, fighting the constitutional breach,” he said.
The former lawmaker said he is worried about the north supporting the Obi-Kwankwanso ticket even though he pitched the idea to Obi
“It is very unlikely that the north will rally around an Obi–Kwankwaso ticket, and this is my personal opinion,” he said.
“Obi and Kwankwaso going together now is my idea. Will it work? I think it’s a big question.”
Datti recently resigned his membership of the Labour Party and joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
He said he initially remained in the LP to help resolve its leadership crisis but later left when the crisis became irreconcilable.
