The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has expressed concern over the state of governance in Nigeria following what he described as a brief but unsettling encounter with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Baba-Ahmed said the experience made him feel sorry for the country, describing the interaction as a “mild Nollywood drama.”
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Labour Party chieftain and founder of Baze University, Abuja, clarified that he was not invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that the anti-graft agency had no reason to summon him.
“The EFCC did not invite me, and it is very unlikely they will anytime soon. However, there was a mild Nollywood drama between some gentlemen of the DSS and myself on November 28, 2025. It lasted just two hours and 15 minutes,” he said.
Recounting the encounter, Baba-Ahmed explained that he voluntarily honoured the DSS request out of curiosity about the reason behind it, insisting that he had committed no offence.
“I walked into their national headquarters very curious, wondering: why are you looking for me? I’m not a criminal. The criminals are in your offices and in your corridors of power. But anyway, here I am. Talk to me. What do you want?” he stated.
According to him, he left the DSS office feeling deeply troubled about Nigeria’s leadership and institutional strength.
“I came out feeling very sorry for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If these are who you call our leaders, then I understand why the United States of America will have to come and attack terrorists on behalf of Nigerian forces. I feel sorry for us,” Baba-Ahmed said.
The former lawmaker added that the interaction raised serious concerns about governance, claiming that DSS operatives appealed to him to moderate his criticisms, describing the government as weak.
“They pleaded with me that this government is very weak and the way you’re punching, it can crash. But these are what we call paper tigers,” he added.
Dismissing any suggestion of intimidation, Baba-Ahmed urged Nigerians not to be afraid, stressing that democratic accountability must not be suppressed.
“The wind is blowing and they’re scaring people. Do not be afraid. Trust in God and believe in yourselves. They will add up to nothing,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources within the DSS said Baba-Ahmed was invited over comments allegedly considered inciting against the Nigerian state.
An officer disclosed that the invitation followed his recent remarks on national television, where he reportedly blamed the judiciary and the military for the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“He even went as far as making comments capable of inciting the military. Such remarks carry undertones that could heighten national tension, especially given the country’s sensitive political climate,” the source said.
Another DSS source maintained that the invitation was preventive in nature, explaining that it was meant to clarify intent rather than persecute the former vice-presidential candidate.
