Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed ((Listenⓘ); born 7 July 1969) is a Nigerian economist and politician who served as Senator for Kaduna North Senatorial District in 2011. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. A member of the Labour Party, he was the party's vice presidential nominee in the 2023 presidential election, alongside presidential candidate Peter Obi.[3]

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
Baba-Ahmed in 2022
Senator for Kaduna North
In office
6 June 2011 – 14 November 2011[1]
Preceded byAhmed Makarfi
Succeeded byAhmed Makarfi
Member of the
House of Representatives of Nigeria
from Kaduna
In office
3 June 2003 – 5 June 2007
ConstituencyZaria
Personal details
Born (1969-07-07) 7 July 1969
NationalityNigerian
Political partyLabour Party (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • economist

From the prominent Baba-Ahmed family of Zaria, Baba-Ahmed graduated from the University of Maiduguri. After schooling, he worked in business and banking for several years before entering politics. Baba-Ahmed was elected as House of Representatives member for Zaria in 2003; while in the position, he became known for speaking out against corruption and the Third Term Agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo. After leaving office in 2007, Baba-Ahmed continued advocating for good governance while returning to his Baze business grouping and founding Baze University. By 2010, he moved back to politics and successfully ran for Senator for Kaduna North; however, the electoral tribunal overturned his victory and he left office in 2011. After an unsuccessful presidential campaign in the 2018 PDP primary, Baba-Ahmed joined the Labour Party in 2022 to become Peter Obi's running mate.[4]

Early life and education

Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed was born to the Baba-Ahmed family in Zaria in 1969. He is among the thirty-three children of his father, Baba Ahmed, who was an Arab cattle-trader from modern-day Mauritania who later became a notable scholar and expert on Islamic jurisprudence.[5]

Baba-Ahmed has a BSc and MSc in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State.[6] He worked in The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC, Lagos before entering politics.[7]

In 2006, while a Federal representative, he earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy when he completed his PhD studies at the University of Westminster.[8][9]

Political career

Baba-Ahmed was elected in April 2003 to the Federal House of Representatives for the Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State.[10] He ran on the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) platform.[11]

Baba-Ahmed was popular for his principled activism.[12] During the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he was among lawmakers who opposed letting Obasanjo run for a third term.[13] In May 2006 he said he would not run for reelection unless action was taken to investigate allegations that members had been bribed to support the constitutional changes needed for a third term presidency.[14] In 2007 he took the Independent National Electoral Commission to court over conduct of past elections. Baba-Ahmed contested and won the Kaduna North Senatorial elections in 2011 under Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which was then led by President Muhammadu Buhari; the election was challenged at the court by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which led to Ahmed’s controversial victory being upturned. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully for the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 2022, he pulled out as a gubernatorial aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the 2023 governorship elections in Kaduna State, citing his refusal to buy delegate votes as his reason. On 8 July 2022, he was nominated as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Nigeria General election.[15]

Later career

Speaking at an Islamic media forum in Abuja in September 2008, Baba-Ahmed called on journalists to fearlessly submit accurate reports. He said that corruption in the country is endemic, and special prayers and determination from all stakeholders are needed to correct the situation.[10] Baba-Ahmed became the Managing Director of Baze Research and Data Services Ltd.[16]

Baba-Ahmed was founder and Pro–Chancellor of Baze University, an independent university located in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria which was allegedly said to be the most expensive university in Nigeria opened in April 2011.[17] Citing his studies abroad as a benchmark, he said that the Nigerian educational system was "appalling" and that this inspired him to start Baze University.[9]

References
  1. "Court Sacks CPC's Senator Datti Ahmed, Declares Makarfi Winner". P.M. News. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  2. Ijaseun, David. "Who is Yusuf Baba Ahmed, Peter Obi's running mate". Business Day.
  3. Abdullahi, Idowu. "UPDATED: Peter Obi picks Datti Baba-Ahmed as running mate". The Punch. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  4. "2023 Elections: Peter Obi Announces Datti Baba-Ahmed As Running Mate". Channels Television. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. "Baba-Ahmed: How A Mauritanian Built A Nigerian Dynasty". Daily Trust. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  6. "Pro Chancellor's Profile". bazeuniversity.edu.ng. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. Abdulkareem Baba Aminu (13 October 2007). "Too Early to Judge Yar'Adua on Anti -Corruption - Ex-Rep. Baba-Ahmed". Daily Trust. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  8. "Votes and Proceedings". House of Representatives. 9 August 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  9. Mu'azu, Auwal S. "Nigeria: We Practically Transform Students At Baze University - Baba-Ahmed". AllAfrica. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  10. Muhammed Abubakar, Abuja (8 September 2008). "Uwais, others urge Moslems to fight corruption". Independent Corrupt Practices Commission. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (22 November 2003). "Buhari's lonely struggles". Weekly Trust. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  12. "How the parties will fare tomorrow". Nigerian News Service. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  13. Bola Badmus and Lanre Adewole, Abuja (8 September 2008). "Financial scandal rocks EFCC - Official finds huge amount in his bank account". Nigerian Daily News. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  14. JAMES OJO (12 May 2006). "Rep wants N50m bribery allegation probed".
  15. "LP unveils Baba-Ahmed as Obi's running mate Friday The Nation Newspaper". 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  16. "Odom Commends Private Investment in the Education Sector". Federal Capital Territory. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  17. "Welcome to Baze University". Baze University. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
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