By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Presidency on Monday launched a robust defence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, rejecting calls by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for the President to resign over alleged governance failures.
The response followed Obi’s criticism of the Tinubu administration, in which he reportedly cited worsening insecurity, rising poverty, economic hardship and declining living standards as evidence that the government had failed to meet public expectations.
Obi had argued that his position was influenced by developments in the United Kingdom, particularly the announcement of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation amid growing public discontent over economic conditions and unfulfilled electoral promises.
The former Anambra State governor argued that the criticisms currently being directed at the Tinubu administration are similar to those Tinubu himself directed at former President Goodluck Jonathan in the build-up to the 2015 general election.
According to Obi, Tinubu was one of the most vocal critics of the Jonathan administration, especially on issues of insecurity and economic hardship confronting Nigerians at the time.
“Before 2015, our President on several occasions championed the call for the then President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over economic hardship and insecurity affecting Nigerians,” Obi said in a post on X.
“During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives.”
Obi further recalled that Tinubu made far-reaching promises to Nigerians during the 2023 presidential campaign, particularly in the areas of electricity supply, anti-corruption efforts and improved living standards.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises, including improved electricity supply. He also challenged the electorate not to vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver on those commitments,” he said.
The NDC flagbearer maintained that the country’s socio-economic and security conditions have deteriorated since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, contrary to the expectations created during the electioneering campaign.
He cited persistent power outages, rising cases of kidnapping and violent crimes, as well as increasing hardship among citizens as evidence that the administration has failed to achieve its key objectives.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased,” Obi said.
The former governor therefore urged the President to accept responsibility for the situation and relinquish office in the interest of accountability and good governance.
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance. Such a gesture would help enthrone a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility, rather than further entrenching impunity.”
Obi argued that a voluntary resignation by the President would send a strong message that public office holders must be held accountable for their stewardship and the promises they make to the electorate.
He added that embracing responsibility for policy outcomes and governance failures would strengthen democratic values and deepen public trust in leadership and institutions.
His comments sparked immediate reactions from the Presidency, which accused the former Anambra State governor of ignoring the realities inherited by the current administration and overlooking the progress recorded since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described Obi’s remarks as misleading, politically driven and disconnected from the constitutional realities of Nigeria’s presidential system.
According to Onanuga, attempts to compare Nigeria’s governance structure with parliamentary democracies in which prime ministers can be removed mid-term were fundamentally flawed.
“Obi’s latest comments calling for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation are not only misplaced but reflect a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023,” the statement said.
The Presidency argued that Tinubu inherited enormous economic challenges, including mounting debt obligations, dwindling revenues, a heavily distorted foreign exchange regime, fuel subsidy burdens and insecurity across several regions of the country.
It maintained that the administration had responded with bold and sometimes difficult reforms aimed at rescuing the economy from long-standing structural weaknesses.
According to the statement, the removal of the fuel subsidy, the unification of the foreign exchange market, and ongoing tax reforms have significantly improved government revenues and strengthened the fiscal positions of both the Federal Government and sub-national governments.
The Presidency said the impact of these reforms is already evident in the increased allocations states receive from the Federation Account, enabling governors to undertake critical infrastructure projects and social programmes that were previously difficult to finance.
“President Tinubu inherited what another successor of Peter Obi described as a dead-horse economy. The reforms introduced since 2023 have repositioned the economy for sustainable growth and long-term stability,” Onanuga said.
The statement further highlighted improvements in oil production, rising external reserves, growth in non-oil revenues, renewed investor confidence and the strong performance of the Nigerian capital market as indicators that the economy is gradually responding to policy interventions.
On infrastructure, the Presidency cited ongoing projects across the country, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, major rail projects and road rehabilitation programmes as evidence of the administration’s commitment to national development.
The government also pointed to reforms in the power sector, particularly the implementation of the Electricity Act, which has granted states greater authority to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
On security, the Presidency dismissed Obi’s criticisms, insisting that significant progress had been made despite persistent threats from terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups.
It said hundreds of kidnapped victims have been rescued, criminal hideouts dismantled and key insurgent commanders neutralised through coordinated military operations.
According to the statement, more than 15,000 terrorists and criminal elements have been eliminated or displaced through intensified security operations since Tinubu took office.
The Presidency also took issue with Obi’s portrayal of public sentiment, arguing that recent political developments suggest that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to enjoy widespread support across the country.
It cited a series of victories in governorship, senatorial, and federal constituency elections recorded by the APC, as well as the growing number of defections from opposition parties to the ruling party, as evidence that Nigerians remain confident in Tinubu’s leadership.
“The election results show that President Tinubu and his party remain popular with Nigerians. Obi should wait until the presidential election to know what the people think of this government,” Onanuga stated.
The Presidency further accused Obi of operating within a “self-constructed echo chamber,” arguing that his assessment of the country fails to acknowledge positive developments across sectors.
While acknowledging that Nigerians continue to face economic pressures, including inflation and rising living costs, the government insisted that many of the challenges have been compounded by global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions beyond Nigeria’s control.
The statement maintained that the administration remains focused on implementing policies that will ultimately deliver prosperity, jobs and economic stability.
The latest exchange underscores the deepening political rivalry ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where Tinubu is expected to seek a second term while Obi positions himself as one of the leading opposition challengers.
For the Presidency, however, the debate over Tinubu’s performance should be settled not through calls for resignation but through the democratic process.
“President Tinubu will not quit. Nigerians will assess his record and deliver their verdict through the ballot in 2027,” Onanuga said.
