Daughter of elder statesman Alhaji Buba Galadima, Zainab Buba Galadima has given an unfiltered account of her political experience and candid insights into Nigeria’s political direction, assessing the performance of the Buhari and Tinubu administrations, the growing upsurge of opposition coalitions, and the readiness of Nigerian youths ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on this week’s edition of the Mic on Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Zainab offered a sobering reflection on her journey in the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressing regret over her role in its formation, “I’m not proud or happy (helping to form the APC). We did not know how to manage victory and I don’t think we were truly ready for governance.”
Despite her political pedigree, Zainab emphasized that her rise was self-earned, revealing that her father’s name often worked against her progress rather than advancing it. She clarified that it was former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, not her father, who gave her the opportunity to serve in government as Technical Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
“My father (Buba Galadima) never got me a job (in the presidency). I built myself politically by myself. He was an obstacle to me politically… I built myself politically by myself.”
She also criticized the Buhari administration for placing incompetent individuals in key positions and failing to institute performance accountability. Recalling her time in office, Zainab recounts internal cabals, distrust, and systemic dysfunction. “People don’t really get fired (for poor performance) like that and I was not even allowed near the Vice President’s office.”
On the state of the Tinubu administration, Zainab expressed disappointment, suggesting there has been little improvement from Buhari’s tenure. She warned of looming dangers within the APC if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
“The Buhari cabinet and Tinubu’s cabinet are more or less the same. Most of those in President Tinubu’s cabinet do not know their job. Maybe three or four are sound. I’m afraid of the storm that is coming and it could consume the APC. If it blows up in the north, Nigeria is gone. So, we have to fix it.”
When asked about the rising opposition movement, including the coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zainab remained skeptical, arguing that the faces remain the same and lack credibility. Still, she noted that a united and selfless front could pose a real challenge to President Tinubu in 2027, “If they leave out their interests and bring out the best person, they can remove Tinubu and the APC.”
While she delivered a harsh critique of youth involvement in politics, arguing that young Nigerians are not yet prepared for the responsibilities of leadership. Zainab Buba Galadima, therefore, called for a values-driven approach to governance.
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