Presidency Dismisses Obi’s Call for Tinubu’s Resignation, Defends Administration’s Record
The Presidency has described former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as “childish” and “anti-democratic” for calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign over the state of the nation.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s comparison of Nigeria’s situation with the resignation of a British prime minister was misplaced, arguing that Nigeria operates a presidential system with a fixed four-year tenure.
Onanuga said recent electoral victories recorded by the ruling party in Ekiti State and senatorial elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers states reflected continued public support for President Tinubu and the ruling party.
He maintained that Nigerians would have the opportunity to assess the administration’s performance during the 2027 general election rather than through what he described as attempts to pressure the President to leave office through social media campaigns.
Defending the administration’s security record, the presidential aide said the Tinubu government inherited long-standing security challenges but had recorded measurable successes, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, elimination of terrorist leaders and intensified military operations across the country.
According to him, over 15,000 terrorists have been neutralised, while investments in security technology, including drones and the appointment of a Special Adviser on Homeland Security, demonstrate the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity.
On the economy, Onanuga rejected Obi’s assertion that Nigeria was in its worst condition, pointing to positive quarterly GDP growth, increased oil production, higher foreign reserves and improved government revenues since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
He said federation revenue had risen significantly, while the stock market had experienced substantial growth, creating wealth for millions of investors. He also cited increased foreign investments and relative stability in the foreign exchange market as evidence of economic recovery.
The Presidency further highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, as well as reforms in the education and energy sectors.
Onanuga said the administration’s student loan programme had enabled nearly two million students to access interest-free loans and noted that tertiary institutions had operated without prolonged strikes by unions such as ASUU and NASU during the period.
Responding to Obi’s criticism of electricity supply, the Presidency accused the former Anambra governor of misrepresenting Tinubu’s campaign promises, insisting that the administration had taken significant steps to reform the power sector through the Electricity Act and the rollout of prepaid meters nationwide.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the high cost of living, Onanuga attributed part of the pressure to global economic disruptions, including tensions in the Middle East and their impact on commodity prices.
The presidential spokesman described Obi’s call for resignation as political grandstanding aimed at distracting from recent electoral successes recorded by the ruling party.
He insisted that President Tinubu remained focused on reforms, economic stabilisation, improved security and infrastructure development, adding that Nigeria was making progress under the current administration.
The statement concluded with a sharp criticism of Obi, accusing him of operating within an “echo chamber” and promoting what the Presidency described as a distorted view of the country’s realities.
