By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Presidency has described Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign as “childish and hollow,” insisting that the Nigerian leader remains focused on governance and delivering on his administration’s agenda.
Obi had urged Tinubu to emulate former United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer by stepping down from office, arguing that the President had failed to fulfil key promises made to Nigerians.
Responding on Monday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the comparison, saying Obi ignored the fundamental differences between Nigeria’s presidential system and Britain’s parliamentary structure.
“Peter Obi’s latest comments calling for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, based on a comparison with the British Prime Minister’s voluntary exit, are not only misplaced but also reflect a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023,” Onanuga said.
He noted that President Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year term and remains answerable to Nigerians through the democratic process.
“We run a presidential system, with the president elected to a fixed four-year term,” he added.
The Presidency also pointed to the All Progressives Congress’ recent victories in Ekiti State and several by-elections across the country as evidence of continued public confidence in the ruling party.
According to Onanuga, rather than calling for resignation, Obi should wait until the next election cycle if he wishes to challenge the administration’s performance.
“Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic,” he stated.
On security, the Presidency maintained that Tinubu inherited longstanding challenges but has intensified military operations, increased investment in security and deployed technology to combat criminality across the country.
The statement claimed that thousands of terrorists had been neutralised and many kidnapped victims rescued through ongoing operations.
Onanuga also faulted Obi’s criticism of the government’s security record, alleging that the former Anambra governor struggled to tackle insecurity during his time in office.
“It is laughable that Obi, who, as governor, was a colossal failure, unable to secure lives and property in his small state of Anambra, is now the one calling for President Tinubu’s resignation over security breaches in some parts of the country,” he said.
While acknowledging economic difficulties facing Nigerians, the Presidency argued that global factors, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in international supply chains, have contributed to current challenges.
It, however, insisted that Tinubu remains committed to economic reforms, national stability and long-term development.
“Peter Obi’s call for President Tinubu’s resignation is childish and hollow. It is not a call to hold the leader accountable. It is merely a political grandstand and an unworthy distraction,” Onanuga said.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on its policies and results, maintaining that the government remains focused on addressing the nation’s challenges.
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