The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu is no longer the same leader he was as governor, arguing that age and fatigue have diminished his ability to govern effectively.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, Obi maintained that the President should retire from public office and allow a younger and more capable generation of leaders to take charge of addressing Nigeria’s growing challenges.
“The Bola Tinubu that was governor is not the one that is president today. He’s tired. He should be allowed to retire in peace and then go home,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor further argued that Tinubu no longer possesses the capacity to steer the country out of its current economic and security difficulties, insisting that Nigeria needs leadership capable of delivering meaningful change.
“As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere. We will turn it so he can see it. That’s why maybe I’m calling for his retirement. The man should just step aside. Yes, he doesn’t have the capacity to do the job.”
Obi also criticised the administration’s handling of key national issues, saying poverty, insecurity and hunger have continued to worsen under the current government. He urged political leaders to prioritise policies that directly improve the lives of Nigerians instead of focusing on political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election.
Referring to recent reports by international organisations, Obi said the country’s worsening socio-economic conditions should be at the centre of national discourse.
“The World Bank has just said that 79% of Nigerians are going to face poverty. In a country of 230 million people, that’s over 180 million. That should be the issue we should be discussing,” he said.
He also expressed concern over rising cases of kidnapping, the growing number of out-of-school children and challenges in the healthcare sector, stressing that government efforts should be directed toward solving the country’s pressing problems.
“The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria,” he added.
