Screenshot
A spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach, Idris Zekeri Jr., has called for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, citing what he described as failures in security and citizens’ welfare. He warned that if the administration does not step down, it risks electoral rejection and “disgrace” at the 2027 polls.
He said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday.
“Welfare is one of the primary purpose of government, the very essence of government. The reason why government exists is welfare. The next leg of it is security, and they’ve failed in both. That is sufficient ground for resignation.
“And we are calling on Nigerians, and we are joining our voices, and we will do what he did some time ago to President Goodluck Jonathan: mobilize to call on Mr. President to think of resigning. It is the smart thing to do. It’s two legs, and this is it. It’s two ways: it’s either he resigns honorably or dishonorably, depending on who is asking, or he waits to be disgraced at the poll in 2027,” he said.
Citing President Tinubu’s past calls for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation over school kidnappings, Zekeri Jr. argued that the same standard should apply today given what he described as a higher number of similar incidents under the current administration.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had called, and in fact, mobilized, calling for the resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan because there was one school kidnapping in Chibok. Do you know how many school kidnappings we’ve had under this president? Thirteen. So, Mr. President, then as an opposition leader, called for the resignation of a president for one school kidnapping, and we’ve had 13 under him. As a matter of fact, his predecessor, who was also an APC president, had 15 in 8 years. Mr. President has had 13 in 3 years. That is sufficient ground for resignation,” he argued.
Rejecting the argument that leadership accountability should only be determined at the ballot box, he insisted that constitutional provisions allow for impeachment and resignation when a government fails in its core responsibilities. He maintained that Nigerians are the true employers of the president and argued that failure in security and welfare makes resignation the minimum expectation.
“The president has committed impeachable offenses. The National Assembly is more or less like an extension. But look, there are grounds for impeachment, and these are legitimate democratic concerns. Calling for the president to resign is a legitimate democratic call. It forms part of it. And in any case, Nigerians are the employers. We employed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu works for us, even when I didn’t vote for him. I know some Nigerians voted for him. But if you work for the Nigerian people, and you have failed in the two ultimate legs of the very existence of your government, the irreducible minimum is to resign,” he maintained.
On what his principal, Peter Obi, would do differently, Zekeri Jr. said he would focus on removing corruption in the fuel subsidy system rather than abrupt removal that he argued disproportionately affects the poor, while prioritising investment in people, small businesses, and education as key drivers of economic recovery.
“Mr. Peter Obi promised that he will first of all remove the corruption in fuel subsidy. And the corruption in fuel subsidy constitutes about 60% of it. Number two, Mr. Tinubu pulled Nigerians into poverty. Mr. Peter Obi has made it abundantly clear that he will pull Nigerians out of poverty. Mr. Peter Obi has made it abundantly clear that he will invest in Nigerian people, SMEs. You put money into small businesses, and he’s doing it now. You invest in education. A trained mind, there’s no limit to the achievement,” he outlined.
Adding, Obi’s spokesperson maintained that a Peter Obi administration would adopt a more hands-on approach to security, and that morale and accountability within the armed forces would improve under more visible and direct presidential involvement.
“Let’s talk about Peter Obi. He will be a hands-on president. He will be a commander-in-chief. He will lead from the front. When people are kidnapped, the president will not stay in Abuja and be giving instructions. The president will not stop in Jos airport and refuse to go see those whose people had been cut short.
“Have you seen President Zelenskyy of Ukraine? You see the way he goes to the front lines to speak to the troops? You see the way he honors them? There is no higher morale than knowing that you are fighting for the president of your country. There is no higher morale than knowing that what is due you gets to you,” he added.
Speaking on what Peter Obi would do differently if elected, he reiterated that the opposition candidate is committed to a single four-year term focused on laying strong foundations for national development.
“Peter Obi is asking for a single term of four years in office. Sufficient to set the foundations and build a country that we can all be proud of,” he assured.
He argued that the current economic and security challenges would not have emerged under such leadership, while maintaining that governance failure justifies calls for resignation, with ultimate accountability resting on voters in the 2027 elections.
“So if Peter Obi were president today, we would not be in this situation in the first place. And then we are saying that the honorable thing to do when all seems not to be working for you, throw in the towel, resign. It’s a democratic right to ask you to resign. If you do not, you wait till 2027, Nigerians will confront you at the poll, and it will be disgraceful,” he emphasised.
Favour Odima
