Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged President Bola Tinubu not to seek another term in office, arguing that the country requires a leader with the strength and capacity to tackle its deepening economic and security challenges.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said Tinubu’s performance as President has fallen short of what Nigerians need, despite acknowledging his achievements as Governor of Lagos State.
“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 maintained that the country was moving in the wrong direction and insisted Nigeria needed a more energetic leadership to restore confidence and drive meaningful progress.
“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.”
Obi also expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic situation, pointing to increasing poverty, hunger, insecurity and what he described as ineffective governance. He criticised the political class for concentrating on personalities instead of addressing the challenges confronting millions of citizens.
“World Bank has just said that 79% of Nigerians are going to face poverty. In a country of 230 million people, that’s over 180 million. That should be the issue we should be discussing.”
He added, “They should be talking about the issue of out-of-school children, talking about the issue of health, and all these monies that are missing here and there that would have been invested properly. Nobody is discussing it.”
The former governor also cited growing food insecurity, saying the country’s next presidential election should centre on policies capable of improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“This election in 2027 should be about issues that affect the ordinary Nigerians… The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria.”
Reacting to remarks by former United States President Donald Trump praising Tinubu’s efforts against insecurity, Obi acknowledged the commendation but insisted the administration’s response had not gone far enough.
“Thank you to Donald Trump. Thank you to President Trump. But we need to do more, far more than what we are doing,” he 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.”
To support his position, Obi referenced recent kidnappings in Zamfara State, saying the incidents underscored the scale of the country’s security challenges.
“On Wednesday, 40 people were abducted in Zamfara, and the entire community, everybody is packing to run away. On Thursday, 50 were abducted. So we’re in a crisis situation that requires another capacity.”
According to Obi, lasting security can only be achieved by reducing poverty and expanding access to education, arguing that economic hardship continues to fuel crime across the country.
“You can’t create mass poverty and think you can deal with insecurity,” he said. “The more you put people out of poverty, the more you reduce criminality. You need to invest in education, massive.”
He pledged that, if elected President, he would take direct responsibility for security matters and ensure every necessary step is taken to protect Nigerians.
“Whatever it takes to secure any Nigerian, I will do that.”
“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. You’re the president. You’re the number one person.”
Speaking on his presidential ambition, Obi said his interest in contesting the 2027 election was motivated by a desire to transform the country rather than personal ambition.
“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
He added that he would support any leader capable of delivering good governance.
“If it’s working, I’ll support whatever makes it work.”
Reflecting on the country’s current state, Obi lamented what he described as Nigeria’s steady decline, saying more citizens were being pushed into poverty while the number of out-of-school children continued to increase.
“Every year we’re headed south, where more and more people have been impoverished, more and more children are out of school. Things are going in the wrong direction.”
He reiterated that his goal is to build a Nigeria that is united and peaceful where every citizen has equal opportunities irrespective of ethnic or religious background.
