Tinubu’s Aide Dismisses Peter Obi’s Resignation Call, Says Nigeria Is Making Progress
The Presidency has described recent calls by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign as “childish, misplaced, and an unnecessary distraction.”
In a statement released on June 22, 2026, Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s comparison between Nigeria’s political system and the recent resignation of the British Prime Minister was inaccurate and failed to reflect Nigeria’s constitutional realities.
According to the Presidency, Nigeria operates a presidential system of government where elected leaders serve constitutionally fixed four-year terms, unlike the parliamentary system practised in the United Kingdom.
Presidency Cites Recent Election Victories
The statement pointed to recent electoral victories recorded by the ruling party in parts of the country, including Ekiti State and several senatorial districts in Nasarawa, Enugu, Ondo, and Rivers states, as evidence that President Tinubu continues to enjoy public support.
The Presidency argued that such outcomes should serve as a stronger indicator of public opinion than social media campaigns calling for the President’s resignation.
It further advised Obi to wait until the 2027 presidential election if he intends to challenge the administration through democratic means rather than resorting to online criticism.
Security Improvements Highlighted
Defending the administration’s security record, the Presidency stated that President Tinubu inherited longstanding security challenges that have existed for years.
It noted that the government has intensified counter-terrorism operations nationwide, leading to the rescue of hundreds of abducted victims and the elimination of thousands of terrorist elements across the country.
The statement added that investments in advanced security technologies, including drones and intelligence operations, have been expanded alongside the appointment of a Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
The Presidency also criticised Obi’s tenure as former governor of Anambra State, arguing that he lacked the moral authority to question the current administration’s security efforts.
Economic Reforms Yielding Positive Results
On the economy, the Presidency rejected Obi’s claim that Nigeria is experiencing its worst period, insisting that key economic indicators show substantial improvements since May 2023.
According to the statement, President Tinubu introduced bold economic reforms that previous administrations avoided implementing.
The government claimed Nigeria has recorded steady Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, improved foreign exchange reserves exceeding $50 billion, and increased crude oil production from below one million barrels per day to approximately 1.8 million barrels daily.
It further stated that national revenue generation has significantly improved, with projections exceeding ₦30 trillion for the year, compared to ₦7.7 trillion recorded in 2022.
The administration also highlighted the growth of the Nigerian stock market, noting that millions of investors have benefited from the rise in market capitalisation and the All-Share Index.
Infrastructure Projects Underway
The Presidency emphasised several ongoing infrastructure projects across the country, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
According to the statement, these projects are designed to improve connectivity and drive long-term economic development.
The administration also pointed to the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative energy source aimed at reducing transportation costs and dependence on expensive petroleum products.
Education Sector Stability
The statement praised the government’s student loan initiative, which has reportedly benefited close to two million Nigerian tertiary students through interest-free loans.
It also highlighted the absence of prolonged industrial actions by academic unions such as ASUU and NASU, describing it as evidence that one of President Tinubu’s campaign promises is being fulfilled.
According to the Presidency, uninterrupted academic calendars have allowed students to complete their programmes within the stipulated timeframe.
Power Sector Reforms
Addressing electricity supply concerns, the Presidency accused Obi and his supporters of misrepresenting President Tinubu’s campaign promises.
It stated that President Tinubu never promised immediate 24-hour electricity nationwide but pledged to improve power supply and eliminate estimated billing practices.
The administration cited the signing of the Electricity Act, which grants states greater autonomy to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently.
Millions of prepaid meters have reportedly been deployed, while plans are underway to install seven million additional units.
The government also said investments in off-grid solar power projects for schools, hospitals, and markets are expanding across various communities.
Cost of Living Challenges Remain
The Presidency acknowledged the high cost of living affecting Nigerians but attributed part of the challenge to global economic disruptions and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
It argued that international developments have contributed to rising commodity prices and inflationary pressures experienced in many countries.
Presidency Dismisses Obi’s Remarks
Concluding the statement, Bayo Onanuga described Peter Obi’s comments as a political distraction rather than constructive criticism.
He maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on implementing reforms, strengthening institutions, improving security, and laying the foundation for long-term national prosperity.
The Presidency insisted that Nigeria is making progress and that the current administration will continue pursuing policies aimed at delivering sustainable development for the country.
STATEHOUSE STATEMENT
Obi’s call for President Tinubu’s resignation childish and an unwarranted distraction
Peter Obi’s latest comments calling for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, based on a comparison with the British prime minister’s voluntary exit, are not only misplaced but also reflect a selective and distorted view of Nigeria’s realities since 2023.
His view is also simplistic, as is often the case anytime he opens his mouth. 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 4-year term. 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. The 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. Obi should wait until the presidential election to know what the people think of Tinubu’s government. Moving to use X to harangue the President out of office is off the mark and anti-democratic.
It is important to note that President Tinubu did not inherit a country in perfect shape. The security challenges we face today are longstanding and deeply rooted. Yet under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has made significant, measurable progress. Hundreds of people have been rescued from captivity, including high-profile operations in Borno and the Northwest. Our gallant troops have neutralised terrorist kingpins, sometimes with the help of our foreign allies. 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, and by appointing a Special Adviser on Homeland Security to ensure a holistic approach. These actions demonstrate commitment, not failure. 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.
On the economic front, Obi’s depiction of decline and his verdict that “We are in the worst possible condition” ignore verifiable data and global plaudits for President Tinubu’s economic and social policies. President Tinubu inherited what another successor of Peter Obi described as ‘a dead horse economy’. When he came on board in May 2023, President Tinubu introduced bold, courageous policies that his predecessors had shied away from. Since then, the Nigerian economy has posted positive GDP growth every quarter, surpassing the global average. Trade surpluses have been recorded consistently, and foreign reserves have hit new highs—over $50 billion. Oil production has risen from less than one million barrels per day to about 1.8 million, reversing years of decline. Federation revenue is 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. State governments now have more resources to pursue development projects in education, infrastructure, health care, housing, and so on. The stock market has soared, with the All-Share Index rising from 50,000 to over 250,000, creating wealth for about 6 million Nigerian investors. The Naira-to-dollar exchange rate has been stable. Foreign Direct and Portfolio Investments are at record highs, reflecting renewed investor confidence, especially in the oil and gas sector.
President Tinubu has also set records in infrastructure delivery, building concrete roads that will last 100 years or more across all the country’s geopolitical zones and actualising the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, roads dreamt of for decades.
Unlike leaders before him, President Tinubu has proven not only to be a reform-minded and courageous leader but also an innovator, for instance, replacing expensive petrol and diesel with CNG and offering close to two million Nigerian tertiary students interest-free loans to pursue their education. Are conditions worsening in our country when, in three years of Tinubu’s leadership, we have recorded no disruption of the academic calendar by trade unions such as ASUU or NASU? 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, which Obi, in his penchant for bad news, has never sung about and will never acknowledge.
Concerning President Tinubu’s campaign promises on power supply, it is misleading for Peter Obi to parrot the claim that candidate Tinubu guaranteed 24-hour electricity for all. What he actually said on that occasion in Lagos and which Obi and his followers have consistently misquoted, for the sake of mischief, was: “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 first policy President Tinubu implemented upon taking office was to sign the Electricity Act, which enables states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently of the centralised grid system. To end the fraudulent estimated billing, his administration has rolled out millions of prepaid meters and plans to install seven million more. Power generation is increasing. The government has intensified its provision of off-grid solar power to schools, hospitals, and markets in many parts of the country. The real challenge remains transmission infrastructure and sustainable pricing, which are now being addressed, to attract fresh investment into the sector.
No one denies that Nigeria has challenges, especially regarding the high cost of living. But any honest politician will agree this is a global problem resulting from the tensions in the Middle East. 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.
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.
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. He is not waiting to learn from Bangladesh, Rwanda or Egypt. He has a team of thinkers and doers. And Nigeria, under him, has been an exemplar for other nations to copy.
True leadership means staying the course, learning, adapting, and delivering results. President Tinubu has shown he is up to the task, and Nigeria is on the path to progress.
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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.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
June 22, 2026
