The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has defended the call by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, saying the appeal was driven by concerns over worsening economic conditions, rising poverty and growing insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, POMR accused the Presidency of avoiding the core issues raised by Obi and instead focusing on what it described as irrelevant arguments about constitutional systems of government and recent elections.
The media office said Obi’s remarks were centred on the principle of leadership accountability, arguing that public officials should take responsibility when government policies fail to improve the welfare of citizens.
According to the statement, the Presidency failed to address what it called the realities facing Nigerians, including rising poverty, business closures, unemployment and declining living standards.
POMR said Obi’s comments were inspired by developments in Britain, where the Prime Minister resigned after acknowledging that his administration had not done enough to improve the lives of citizens.
The organisation argued that accountability transcends political systems, noting that resignation by elected leaders is not exclusive to parliamentary democracies.
It cited several examples from presidential systems, including former United States President Richard Nixon, former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello, former Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and former Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa, who resigned while in office under different circumstances.
The statement also recalled that Tinubu had publicly called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign during the 2012 fuel subsidy protests and after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, despite Nigeria operating the same presidential system.
POMR claimed that conditions under the current administration had deteriorated significantly, alleging that the number of Nigerians living in poverty had increased sharply while public debt had continued to rise without corresponding improvements in citizens’ welfare.
It maintained that government claims of economic progress, reflected in GDP growth, increased revenue generation and stock market performance, had not translated into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians.
“Economic growth that does not improve living standards remains largely statistical,” the statement said, insisting that the true test of governance is the quality of life enjoyed by citizens.
On security, the Obi media office contended that while security agencies had recorded some successes, criminal activities including kidnapping, banditry and attacks on communities had spread across different parts of the country.
It said many farmers were unable to access their farmlands safely, while businesses and households continued to face security concerns.
The statement further criticised what it described as attempts by the Presidency to shift attention to Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State. It maintained that Obi’s administration recorded notable achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure and fiscal management, and left behind verifiable records.
POMR also questioned the integrity of the recent elections, warning that electoral processes perceived as lacking credibility could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.
The group expressed concern over what it described as misplaced national priorities, pointing to the disparity between budgetary allocations for elections and funding for primary healthcare.
It urged the Federal Government to concentrate on tackling poverty, insecurity, unemployment, power shortages and low productivity rather than engaging in political disputes.
According to the statement, Obi’s position was intended to encourage a culture of accountability in public office and stimulate national reflection on the direction of governance.
The media office concluded by calling for leadership that prioritises service, responsibility and the welfare of citizens, insisting that Nigeria’s challenges require urgent and sincere attention from those in authority.
Leave a Reply