MARGARETH CHIDERA
NIGERIA: The Peter Obi Media Office has defended the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s call for President Bola Tinubu to consider resigning, insisting that the statement was rooted in the principles of leadership responsibility and accountability rather than partisan politics.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, the office accused the Presidency of failing to address the substance of Obi’s remarks and instead focusing on what it described as “shadow chasing” by raising issues unrelated to the concerns he expressed.
Obi had reportedly urged Tinubu to take a cue from the recent resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, arguing that leaders should accept responsibility when their governments fail to improve citizens’ living conditions.
Responding to criticisms from the Presidency, Obi’s media office said the former Anambra governor’s position was not about whether Nigeria operates a presidential or parliamentary system, but about accountability in public office.
“The British Prime Minister did not resign because of the nature of the British political system. He resigned because he understood that leadership comes with responsibility and accountability,” the statement said.
The office further argued that resignation is not alien to presidential democracies, citing former leaders such as Richard Nixon, Fernando Collor de Mello, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Fernando de la Rúa as examples of presidents who left office under pressure.
The media office also accused Tinubu of applying double standards, recalling that he had repeatedly called for the resignation of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the fuel subsidy protests and following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
According to the statement, Obi’s concerns stem from worsening economic conditions under the current administration, claiming that the number of Nigerians living in poverty has increased significantly while public debt has risen without a corresponding improvement in citizens’ welfare.
It said businesses were struggling under high operating costs, manufacturers were grappling with weak consumer demand, and unemployment remained widespread.
“The true measure of economic success is not the performance of the stock market but the well-being of the average citizen,” the statement added.
On security, the Obi Media Office argued that despite government claims of progress, insecurity had spread across more parts of the country, with kidnapping, banditry and violent attacks continuing to threaten lives and livelihoods.
The group also dismissed attempts by the Presidency to criticise Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, maintaining that his administration made measurable improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure and fiscal management.
It further rejected suggestions that recent election outcomes reflected public endorsement of the Tinubu administration, describing the polls as deeply flawed and warning that persistent electoral shortcomings could undermine public confidence in democracy.
The statement also questioned government spending priorities, noting that while about ₦298 billion was budgeted for primary healthcare, approximately ₦873 billion was allocated for elections.
Reiterating Obi’s position, the media office said the former presidential candidate’s comments were intended to encourage a culture of accountability in governance and not to score political points.
It urged the Federal Government to focus on tackling insecurity, poverty, unemployment, power shortages and declining productivity rather than engaging critics.
“Nigeria deserves leadership that listens more than it lectures, serves more than it celebrates itself, and accepts responsibility rather than constantly searching for excuses. A new Nigeria is POssible,” the statement concluded.
