The Presidency, on Monday, dismissed calls by Nigeria Democratic Congress( NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu to resign over the country’s challenges, describing the demand as childish, anti-democratic and a distraction from the government’s efforts to address economic and security concerns.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s comparison of Nigeria with the United Kingdom and his invocation of the British Prime Minister’s voluntary resignation on Monday reflected a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s presidential system of government.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year term and could not be pressured out of office through social media campaigns or political rhetoric.
“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,” the statement read.
The presidential spokesman argued that recent electoral victories recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and senatorial elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers States showed that the President and his party continued to enjoy public support.
He said Obi should wait until the next presidential election to test the popularity of the Tinubu administration rather than “harangue the President out of office” through posts on social media.
On security, the Presidency rejected claims that the government had failed to tackle insecurity, insisting that significant progress had been recorded under Tinubu’s administration.
Onanuga said hundreds of abducted persons had been rescued through military operations across the country, while thousands of terrorists had been neutralised or arrested.
He added that the administration had expanded investment in the security sector by deploying advanced technologies, including drones, and appointing a Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
“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.
The Presidency also faulted Obi’s criticism of the economy, saying the former Anambra State governor ignored key economic indicators that showed improvement since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
According to the statement, Nigeria has recorded positive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth every quarter under the current administration, while foreign reserves have risen above $50 billion.
The Presidency further claimed that oil production had increased to about 1.8 million barrels per day, federation revenue was projected to exceed N30 trillion this year, and the stock market had witnessed unprecedented growth.
Onanuga said the government had also made strides in infrastructure development, citing the construction of major highways, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
He also pointed to reforms in the power sector, insisting that Obi and his supporters had repeatedly misrepresented comments made by Tinubu during the election campaign regarding electricity supply.
According to him, one of Tinubu’s first actions in office was signing the Electricity Act, which decentralised electricity generation and distribution, allowing states to play a bigger role in the sector.
The Presidency acknowledged that Nigerians were grappling with a high cost of living but attributed the situation partly to global economic headwinds and geopolitical tensions.
“No one denies that Nigeria has challenges, especially regarding the high cost of living. But any honest politician will agree this is a global problem,” the statement said.
Onanuga maintained that President Tinubu remained focused on implementing reforms and delivering on his mandate.
“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,” he added.
The statement comes amid renewed exchanges between the Presidency and opposition figures over the state of the economy, insecurity and the direction of the country ahead of the 2027 general election.
