By Dennis Okechukwu
The Peter Obi Media Office has defended the call by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu to resign, insisting that the appeal was rooted in the principles of responsible leadership and accountability rather than partisan politics.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office said the presidency failed to address the substance of Obi’s concerns and instead resorted to “insults, distortions and self-congratulatory rhetoric.”
According to the statement, Obi’s call was prompted by what he described as worsening economic conditions in the country, citing a rise in the number of Nigerians living below the poverty line from about 87 million when Tinubu assumed office to approximately 140 million.
The media office argued that the President should take a cue from the British Prime Minister, who recently resigned after acknowledging his government had not sufficiently improved citizens’ living conditions.
It stressed that Obi’s comments were not about whether Nigeria operates a presidential or parliamentary system but about the universal principle that leaders should accept responsibility for outcomes under their watch.
“The British Prime Minister did not resign because of the nature of the British political system. He resigned because he understood that leadership comes with responsibility and accountability,” the statement said.
The Obi camp also rejected suggestions that resignation is incompatible with presidential systems, citing examples such as former United States President Richard Nixon, former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello, former Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and former Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa, all of whom resigned while in office under varying circumstances.
It further accused President Tinubu of applying double standards, recalling that he had previously called for the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the fuel subsidy protests and after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls while Nigeria was operating the same presidential system.
“Leadership standards should not change depending on who occupies the office,” the statement added.
The media office maintained that the past three years had been among the most difficult in Nigeria’s recent history, citing rising poverty levels, mounting debt and worsening living conditions.
It said millions of Nigerians were grappling with economic hardship, as businesses shut down, manufacturers struggled with high production costs and consumer demand remained weak.
The statement also dismissed the presidency’s reliance on macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth, increased revenue and stock market gains, arguing that economic progress should be measured by improvements in citizens’ quality of life.
“Economic growth that does not translate into improved living standards is merely statistical growth. The true measure of economic success is not the performance of the stock market but the well-being of the average citizen,” it said.
On security, the Obi camp argued that while there had been isolated operational successes, insecurity had spread across virtually every region of the country, with kidnapping, banditry and attacks on communities becoming widespread concerns.
It also criticised attempts by the presidency to scrutinise Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, insisting that his administration fulfilled over 80 per cent of its promises, improved education and healthcare outcomes and left verifiable achievements.
The statement faulted the use of the recent bye-elections as evidence of public endorsement of the Tinubu administration, describing the polls as flawed and warning that such elections could undermine Nigeria’s democracy if they become the norm.
It also questioned the country’s budgetary priorities, noting that about ₦298 billion was allocated to primary healthcare, while approximately ₦873 billion was earmarked for elections.
According to the media office, Obi’s resignation call was intended to promote a culture of accountability and encourage leaders to treat public office as a sacred trust.
It urged the government to focus on addressing pressing national challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, poverty, electricity shortages, declining productivity and waning public confidence in governance.
“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 said.
It concluded by reiterating Obi’s vision of a united, secure, productive and prosperous nation, insisting that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”