Tinubu's Aide Slams Obi's Call for Resignation as 'Childish' and 'Hollow'

The Presidency on Monday dismissed the call by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), Peter Obi, for President Bola Tinubu's resignation. Bayo Onanuga, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, described the call as 'childish and hollow'.

He said Obi's argument ignored the constitutional framework under which Nigeria operates. 'His view is also simplistic, as is often the case anytime he opens his mouth,' Onanuga said. 'Obi forgets our country does not run a parliamentary system of government like the UK. We run a presidential system, with the president elected to a fixed four-year term,' he added.

The presidency accused Obi of drawing a false comparison between Nigeria's presidential system and the UK's parliamentary democracy. Onanuga maintained that recent election outcomes in parts of the country demonstrated public support for Tinubu and the APC. '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,' he said.

The Presidential aide argued that the recent election results, some early referendum of sorts, show that President Tinubu and his party are popular with Nigerians. 'This should be more concerning for Peter Obi and his new Special Purpose Vehicle, NDC, as we move towards the January 2027 election,' Onanuga added.

Onanuga defended the administration's handling of security challenges, insisting that significant gains had been recorded against terrorists and criminal groups across the country. He said hundreds of kidnapped victims had been rescued while thousands of terrorists had been neutralised or removed from their strongholds through intensified military operations.

The Presidency also highlighted economic indicators which it said contradicted Obi's claim that Nigeria was in its worst condition. According to Onanuga, Tinubu inherited a struggling economy but had implemented reforms that resulted in sustained GDP growth, improved foreign reserves, increased oil production, higher government revenues and stronger investor confidence.

Onanuga said the administration had also made strides in infrastructure, education and power sector reforms, citing the student loan scheme, major highway projects and the Electricity Act as examples of progress. He further accused Obi of misrepresenting Tinubu's campaign promises on electricity and ignoring reforms aimed at improving power generation and distribution.

While acknowledging the high cost of living, the Presidency argued that inflationary pressures were partly linked to global developments, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in international supply chains. Onanuga maintained that Tinubu remained focused on governance and delivering reforms rather than responding to political rhetoric.

'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 a political grandstand and an unworthy distraction just hours after President Tinubu's party recorded resounding victories in the weekend polls,' Onanuga said.