Obi asks Tinubu to step aside ahead of 2027, says president ‘tired’

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the President is “tired” and no longer has the capacity to address Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.

Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, Obi said Tinubu’s performance as president had fallen short of the demands of the office despite his record 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 argued that Nigeria was moving in the wrong direction and required leadership with the energy and resolve to tackle its challenges.

“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 painted a bleak picture of the country’s socio-economic conditions, citing rising poverty, hunger, insecurity and what he described as poor governance.

He said public discourse should focus on addressing the country’s pressing challenges rather than political personalities.

“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.”

Obi also expressed concern over worsening food insecurity, saying millions of Nigerians were at risk of hunger.

“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 comments by United States President Donald Trump commending Tinubu’s efforts in tackling insecurity, Obi acknowledged the remarks but maintained that the government’s response remained inadequate.

“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.”

The NDC presidential candidate cited recent kidnappings in Zamfara State as evidence that insecurity remained a major national challenge.

“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, reducing poverty is central to tackling insecurity, arguing that economic deprivation fuels crime and violence.

“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 said that if elected president, he would personally take responsibility for the country’s security situation.

“Whatever it takes to secure any Nigerian, I will do that,” Obi said.

“If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. You’re the president. You’re the number one person.”

On his presidential ambition, Obi said his motivation was to see Nigeria succeed rather than occupy the nation’s highest office.

“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 trajectory, Obi said Nigeria had continued to decline in recent years.

“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 said his goal remained to build “a Nigeria that is united and peaceful” where citizens enjoy equal opportunities irrespective of tribe or religion.