The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, citing the resignation announcement of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as a model for political accountability.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Obi noted that Starmer’s decision to step down amid public dissatisfaction over economic challenges and rising living costs reflects the essence of leadership responsibility in a democracy.
“As a keen observer of global politics, my primary interest lies in examining what successful nations do right and the structural factors that cause others to lag or struggle with governance and development,” Obi said.
Drawing comparisons to Nigeria’s political history, Obi recalled that Tinubu, prior to the 2015 general election, had repeatedly demanded the resignation of then-President Goodluck Jonathan over rising insecurity and economic hardship.
“During the Chibok school kidnapping incident, he [Tinubu] demanded the immediate resignation of President Jonathan, arguing that the government had failed in its most fundamental duty of protecting lives,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor also pointed out that during the 2023 campaign, Tinubu promised to improve electricity supply, combat corruption, and boost welfare, even challenging Nigerians not to re-elect him if he failed to deliver.
Obi argued that the country’s conditions have instead deteriorated significantly under the current administration.
“At present, however, these conditions have worsened. Electricity supply remains unreliable, insecurity has intensified in many areas, including kidnappings, and economic hardship has deepened rather than eased,” Obi said, adding that key sectors like infrastructure, transportation, and anti-corruption efforts have suffered major setbacks.
Labeling the current situation as “the worst possible condition,” Obi urged Tinubu to step down to foster “a political culture rooted in accountability and responsibility.”
“I, therefore, join Nigerians of goodwill in calling for the resignation of the President over monumental failure in governance,” Obi concluded, emphasizing that public office must be treated as a “sacred trust, not an entitlement” to end the culture of impunity in Nigeria.
