News
Obi provokes presidency
The Presidency has dismissed calls by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as “childish,” misplaced and a distraction from ongoing governance efforts.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s comparison of Nigeria’s situation with the resignation of a British prime minister was flawed because Nigeria operates a presidential system with fixed terms of office.
According to Onanuga, recent bye-election victories recorded by the ruling party in several states reflected continued public support for President Tinubu and his administration.
The presidential aide argued that Tinubu inherited longstanding security and economic challenges and had made measurable progress in addressing them. He cited ongoing military operations against insurgents and bandits, the rescue of kidnapped victims, and increased investments in security technology as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving national security.
On the economy, Onanuga rejected Obi’s assessment that Nigeria was in its worst condition, pointing to positive gross domestic product growth, rising foreign reserves, increased oil production and improved government revenues since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
He also highlighted gains in the capital market, growth in foreign investments and ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, as indicators of progress under the current administration.
The Presidency further defended Tinubu’s reforms in the education and energy sectors. Onanuga noted that the government had introduced interest-free student loans and recorded a period without major disruptions to academic activities by university unions.
Responding to criticism over electricity supply, he said President Tinubu had taken steps to decentralise power generation through the Electricity Act and expand access to prepaid meters, while addressing challenges in transmission infrastructure.
While acknowledging the rising cost of living, the Presidency attributed part of the economic pressure to global factors, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to international supply chains.
Onanuga maintained that Tinubu remained focused on implementing reforms, strengthening security and improving economic conditions, insisting that the President was committed to delivering on his mandate.
He concluded that Obi’s call for resignation amounted to political grandstanding rather than constructive criticism, adding that the administration would remain focused on governance and national development.