NIGERIA: The media team of the President of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision not to accompany members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) accused Tinubu of attempting to delegate political accountability to party chieftains and other campaign surrogates while seeking another presidential mandate from Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, the group said the President could not expect political allies to defend his administration’s record while he remained absent from campaign engagements.
“President Bola Tinubu reportedly says the demands of governance may keep him away from the campaign trail. Nigerians deserve to ask: If he cannot make time to face the electorate, why should surrogates be sent to ask for their votes?” the statement said.
The group argued that the President could not transfer responsibility for his administration’s performance to political associates, insisting that Nigerians deserved direct explanations about the impact of government policies on their lives.
“Surrogates can speak for the President, but they cannot answer for his failures. They can repeat his promises, but they cannot make those promises a reality. They can campaign in his name, but they cannot carry his responsibility,” it added.
POMR challenged Tinubu to explain how his administration’s economic policies had affected the cost of living, including food, transportation, electricity, housing and other essential needs.
It also questioned why the President should not personally defend his record before the electorate if his administration’s policies were delivering the expected results.
“If the administration has delivered on its promises, why should the President be reluctant to defend that record before Nigerians himself? If the economy is improving, let him explain how that improvement is reflected in the cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and necessities. If his policies are working, let him face the citizens who want to know when the hardship will end,” the statement said.
The group maintained that governance should not be used as a justification for avoiding scrutiny, arguing that a president seeking re-election must be prepared to account for his performance.
“Mr President, governance is not an excuse to avoid accountability. In a democracy, governance is the very record a candidate must defend before asking for another mandate,” it said.
POMR further insisted that Nigerians were being asked to assess Tinubu’s policies, promises and performance rather than those of the politicians campaigning on his behalf.
It said the President should directly address questions about his administration’s achievements and unfulfilled promises instead of relying on surrogates to communicate his message.
“The Nigerian people deserve a direct conversation with their President, not a relay of rehearsed talking points from political messengers,” the statement added.
The group concluded that Tinubu must personally engage Nigerians if he expected them to renew his mandate in 2027.
“A President who seeks the people’s mandate must be prepared to face the people. Surrogates may carry the message, but they cannot carry the burden of accountability,” the statement said.
The criticism followed Tinubu’s remarks on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he asked members to excuse him from accompanying them to every campaign event, citing governance and the need to meet the country’s financial obligations.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President said, according to Vanguard.
