A spokesman for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Idris Zekeri Jr., has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign, citing what he described as the administration’s failure to address insecurity and improve citizens’ welfare.
Zekeri made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, arguing that the two key responsibilities of any government—security and welfare—have not been adequately met under the current administration.
According to him, the inability of the government to effectively tackle rising economic hardship and security challenges provides sufficient grounds for the President to consider stepping down.
“Welfare is one of the primary purposes of government. The very essence of government is welfare, and the next leg of it is security. They have failed in both, and that is sufficient ground for resignation,” he said.
The POMR spokesman stated that opposition groups would continue to mobilise citizens to demand greater accountability from the government, insisting that resignation remains a legitimate democratic option for elected leaders who fail to meet public expectations.
Drawing comparisons with President Tinubu’s position as an opposition leader during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Zekeri noted that Tinubu had previously called for Jonathan’s resignation following the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction.
He argued that the current administration has witnessed several similar incidents and should therefore be subjected to the same standard of accountability.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mobilised calls for President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation because of one school kidnapping in Chibok. We have witnessed several incidents under this administration, and the same standard should apply,” he said.
Zekeri dismissed suggestions that leadership accountability should only be determined during elections, maintaining that democratic systems provide avenues for resignation or impeachment when governments fail to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities.
“The president works for the Nigerian people. If a government fails in the fundamental areas of security and welfare, citizens have every democratic right to demand accountability,” he stated.
Addressing what a Peter Obi administration would do differently, Zekeri said the former Anambra State governor would focus on removing corruption associated with the fuel subsidy regime rather than implementing policies that, according to him, disproportionately affect ordinary Nigerians.
He added that Obi would prioritise investments in education, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and human capital development as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty.
“Peter Obi has consistently stated that he would invest in people, education, and small businesses because those are the foundations of sustainable development,” he said.
On security, Zekeri described Obi as a leader who would take a more direct approach to addressing security threats across the country.
He argued that visible presidential engagement with security personnel and affected communities would boost morale among troops and strengthen public confidence in government efforts to combat crime and violence.
The POMR spokesman also reiterated Obi’s commitment to serving a single four-year term if elected president, saying the objective would be to lay the foundation for long-term national development and institutional reforms.
“Peter Obi is asking for a single term of four years to establish the foundations for a country that all Nigerians can be proud of,” he said.
He concluded by insisting that the current administration remains accountable to Nigerians and warned that if citizens remain dissatisfied with its performance, they would ultimately express their verdict through the ballot box in the 2027 general elections.