The Peter Obi Media Office has defended the recent call by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, insisting that the appeal was rooted in the principles of leadership accountability and not partisan politics.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the media office said the response by the Presidency to Obi’s comments failed to address the core issues of governance, worsening economic hardship and declining living standards among Nigerians.
According to the statement, Obi’s position was informed by what he described as the administration’s inability to improve the welfare of citizens since assuming office.
The media office argued that rather than engage the substance of Obi’s remarks, the Presidency focused on what it described as unrelated issues, including debates over Nigeria’s presidential system of government and recent elections.
It maintained that Obi’s comments were inspired by the recent resignation announcement of the British Prime Minister, who accepted responsibility for his government’s inability to sufficiently improve the living conditions of citizens.
“Peter Obi’s intervention was neither personal nor partisan. It was a reflection on leadership and accountability,” the statement stressed.
The media office further rejected suggestions that resignation is inconsistent with presidential systems, citing examples of leaders in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Peru and Argentina, who resigned while operating under presidential democracies.
It also recalled that President Tinubu had, as an opposition leader, repeatedly called for the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan during periods of insecurity and economic challenges, including the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and the fuel subsidy protests.
The statement claimed that “poverty, insecurity, unemployment and economic hardship had worsened under the current administration, despite government claims of improved economic indicators”.
According to the media office, economic growth should be measured by improvements in the welfare of ordinary citizens rather than by revenue figures, stock market performance or other macroeconomic statistics.
The group also expressed concerns over the country’s security situation, alleging that kidnapping, banditry and violent crimes have become more widespread across the country.
On criticism of Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State, the media office defended his record, saying his administration achieved significant progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure and fiscal management.
The statement further criticized the conduct of recent elections, describing them as flawed and warning that electoral shortcomings could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
It urged the federal government to focus on addressing pressing national challenges, including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, electricity shortages and declining productivity, rather than engaging critics.
“Nigeria deserves leadership that listens more than it lectures, serves more than it celebrates itself, and accepts responsibility rather than constantly searching for excuses,” the statement stated.
