The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that Nigeria needs a more energetic and capable leader to tackle the country’s worsening economic and security challenges, Peak Newspaper reports.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said President Tinubu’s administration had failed to provide the level of leadership required to address the nation’s pressing problems, insisting that the president no longer possesses the capacity to govern effectively.
Drawing a comparison between Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State and his current role as President, Obi said there was a significant difference in leadership performance.
“The Bola Tinubu that was governor is not the one that is president today. He’s tired. He should be allowed to retire in peace and then go home,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor further alleged that Nigeria was moving in the wrong direction under the current administration.
“As it is right now, Bola Tinubu is leading us nowhere. We will turn it so he can see it. That’s why maybe I’m calling for his retirement. The man should just step aside. Yes, he doesn’t have the capacity to do the job,” he added.
Obi urged Nigerians to focus less on political calculations and more on the country’s critical challenges, including poverty, hunger, insecurity and the state of education.
According to him, recent global projections indicate that nearly 79 per cent of Nigerians could fall below the poverty line, while millions more face the risk of food insecurity if urgent action is not taken.
Reacting to comments by United States President Donald Trump, who recently commended President Tinubu’s efforts in tackling insecurity, Obi acknowledged the praise but maintained that the government’s response remained insufficient.
“Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing,” Obi said.
“I’ve heard people, and Donald Trump is now confirming it, say he has done his best. But with the crisis we are facing, his best is not enough. We need to do more.”
The remarks are expected to further shape political discourse ahead of the 2027 general election, as opposition figures continue to scrutinise the performance of the Tinubu administration while the presidency has consistently defended its policies, citing ongoing reforms aimed at addressing economic and security challenges.
