The Presidency has dismissed calls by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as “childish” and an unnecessary distraction from governance.
According to The Punch, the response was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who faulted Obi’s comparison of Nigeria’s political system with that of the United Kingdom.
The Presidency said Obi’s argument was flawed because Nigeria operates a presidential system of government, unlike the parliamentary model practised in the UK.
“Obi’s call for President Tinubu’s resignation is childish and an unwarranted distraction,” the statement said.
It added that Obi’s analysis was “misplaced” and reflected what it described as a selective interpretation of developments in the country since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
Defending the administration’s performance, the Presidency argued that recent election outcomes in parts of the country demonstrated continued public support for Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“The people of Ekiti State and the senatorial constituents in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers have just delivered a resounding victory for President Tinubu and his party,” the statement said.
On security, the Presidency maintained that significant progress had been recorded despite ongoing challenges across parts of the country.
According to the statement, hundreds of kidnapped victims have been rescued, while security agencies have neutralised several terrorist leaders and intensified the deployment of advanced technologies to combat insecurity.
The Presidency also criticised Obi’s record as former governor of Anambra State, claiming he failed to adequately address security challenges during his tenure.
On the economy, the government rejected suggestions that conditions had worsened under Tinubu, citing improvements in key economic indicators.
The statement noted that Nigeria had recorded positive GDP growth, increased foreign reserves and higher oil production levels since the administration took office.
It also pointed to infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, as evidence of the government’s commitment to national development.
The Presidency further highlighted reforms in the education and power sectors, including the student loan programme and efforts to expand electricity access through ongoing reforms and metering initiatives.
Responding to Obi’s criticism of the administration’s electricity promises, the Presidency accused him of misrepresenting the President’s remarks and insisted that reforms were already yielding results.
It also attributed economic pressures and inflation partly to global developments, including tensions in the Middle East and their impact on international markets.
The statement concluded with a direct rebuke of Obi’s remarks, describing the resignation demand as politically motivated.
“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 political grandstanding and an unworthy distraction,” the statement said.
The Presidency further alleged that Obi was disconnected from current realities, insisting that many of the claims he made about the country did not reflect ongoing developments under the Tinubu administration.
