“Childish and Hollow” – Presidency Fires Back at Obi Over Tinubu Resignation Demand

“Childish and Hollow” – Presidency Fires Back at Obi Over Tinubu Resignation Demand

• Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says Obi’s comparison with UK political system is “simplistic” and “misplaced,” points to recent APC electoral victories as proof of public support.

The Presidency has fired back at Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 elections, over his call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, dismissing the demand as “childish,” “hollow,” and an unwarranted distraction from governance. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, June 22, 2026, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, faulted Obi’s comparison of Nigeria’s political system with that of the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently announced plans to leave office.

According to Onanuga, Obi’s argument ignored the differences between Nigeria’s presidential system and Britain’s parliamentary structure, stressing that President Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year tenure. The statement further noted that Obi’s view was “simplistic” and reflected a “selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023.” Onanuga emphasised that Nigeria does not operate a parliamentary system like the UK but a presidential system, with the president elected to a fixed four-year term. “Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic,” the statement read.

The Presidency also pointed to the recent victories recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in elections held in Ekiti State and parts of Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo and Rivers states, saying the outcomes reflected continued public support for the President and his party. “The election results, some early referendum of sorts, show that President Tinubu and his party are popular with Nigerians,” Onanuga said. He argued that Obi should await the 2027 presidential election if he wished to test public opinion on Tinubu’s administration rather than using social media to pressure the President to leave office.

Responding to criticisms of the government’s handling of insecurity, the Presidency maintained that the security challenges confronting the country predated Tinubu’s administration and had deep roots. The statement highlighted what it described as gains recorded under the current administration, including the rescue of kidnap victims, intensified military operations and the elimination of terrorist leaders in different parts of the country. “Over 15,000 terrorists have been taken off the streets and forests, and security operations have intensified nationwide. President Tinubu has not only sustained but also expanded investments in security by deploying advanced technologies and drones,” Onanuga stated. The Presidency further criticised Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, questioning his credentials to comment on security matters. “It is laughable that Obi, who, as governor, was a colossal failure, unable to secure lives and property in his small state of Anambra, as documented by his successor, Willie Obiano, is now the one calling for President Tinubu’s resignation over security breaches in some parts of the country,” the statement read.

READ ALSO:

• JUST IN: One Injured As Bomb Explosion Rocks Lagos Market
• FG Orders Immediate Halt of Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Road Work – Here’s Why
• Police Reject Ransom Talks for Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren, Vow Safe Rescue

On the economic front, Onanuga rejected Obi’s claim that Nigeria was in its worst condition, insisting that economic indicators showed improvements since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. The statement said the administration’s reforms had produced consistent economic growth, increased foreign reserves, higher oil production and improved government revenue. Key figures cited included GDP growth recorded every quarter, foreign reserves hitting over $50 billion, oil production rising from less than one million barrels per day to about 1.8 million, and federation revenue projected to hit over N30 trillion this year, far above the 2022 level of N7.7 trillion. “By May this year, N15.7 trillion has already been collected, more than twice the entire revenue collected in 2022,” the statement added. It also cited gains in the stock market, with the All-Share Index rising from 50,000 to over 250,000, creating wealth for about 6 million Nigerian investors.

On infrastructure, the Presidency credited Tinubu with advancing major road projects across the country, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, describing them as “roads dreamt of for decades.” It further highlighted the government’s compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative and the student loan scheme, which provides interest-free loans to tertiary institution students. The statement also argued that the absence of prolonged strikes by university unions such as ASUU and NASU under the current administration demonstrated progress in the education sector. “That is one of President Tinubu’s campaign promises to our students: a four-year programme will be a four-year programme. It has been a promise well kept,” Onanuga said.

Addressing criticism over electricity supply, the Presidency accused Obi of misrepresenting comments Tinubu made during the 2023 election campaign. It quoted the President’s campaign remarks: “Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me—unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver.” The statement added that Tinubu’s administration moved quickly to reform the power sector by signing the Electricity Act, which grants states greater authority over electricity generation, transmission and distribution. It added that millions of prepaid meters had already been deployed, with plans for millions more, while investments in off-grid solar power projects continued across schools, hospitals and markets.

Although it acknowledged the high cost of living, the Presidency argued that rising prices were not unique to Nigeria and had been influenced by global developments, including tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to international supply chains. “Just recently, as inflation was receding in Nigeria, a disruption to the global economy occurred when America and Israel attacked Iran, and Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, creating disruption in the global supply system and high prices of many commodities, including crude oil,” the statement said.

The statement maintained that Obi’s call for Tinubu’s resignation was politically motivated and lacked substance. It said the President remained focused on economic reforms, infrastructure development and security improvements rather than political rhetoric. “Leadership is about determination to confront the challenges facing our country and the economy. President Tinubu focuses on solutions, not rhetoric—investing in reforms, stabilising the economy, improving security, and laying the groundwork for a more prosperous Nigeria,” Onanuga stated. The Presidency also insisted that Nigeria was making steady progress under Tinubu’s leadership and accused Obi of presenting a distorted picture of conditions in the country. “With his puerile tweet on X, we are now convinced that Peter Obi lives in his self-constructed echo chambers, where he reels off lie after lie to himself and believes his self-created reality about the situation in Nigeria. We sympathise with him. That reality he fantasises about is mostly a figment of his imagination,” the statement concluded.

Obi had earlier called on President Tinubu to resign, citing Starmer’s decision to step down as an example of political accountability that Nigerian leaders should emulate. In a statement shared on X, the former Anambra governor argued that both leaders came to power on major campaign promises that had not been fulfilled. He said Starmer’s decision followed public dissatisfaction over economic challenges, rising living costs and unmet promises. Drawing parallels with Nigeria, Obi recalled Tinubu’s criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 election, particularly following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls. According to Obi, Tinubu had then argued that a government that could not protect lives had failed in its primary responsibility. He said the current administration had also fallen short in critical areas, including electricity supply, security, infrastructure and anti-corruption efforts.

“Childish and Hollow” – Presidency Fires Back at Obi Over Tinubu Resignation Demand