Former presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside from office, arguing that the President no longer possesses the capacity needed to confront Nigeria’s growing economic and security challenges.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday, where he delivered a scathing assessment of the Tinubu administration, accusing it of failing to provide effective leadership at a time the country is grappling with worsening poverty, hunger and insecurity.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the Tinubu who governed Lagos State is no longer the same leader occupying the Presidency, insisting that age and the demands of office have taken their toll.
“The Bola Tinubu that was governor is not the one who is president today. He’s tired. He should be allowed to retire in peace and then go home,” Obi said.
He maintained that Nigeria requires a leader with the energy, vision and capacity to address the country’s numerous challenges, arguing that the current administration has failed to place the nation on the right path.
“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 criticised what he described as the political class’s preoccupation with power ahead of the 2027 general election instead of focusing on the worsening living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
He pointed to recent assessments by international organisations, saying the country’s rising poverty rate, widespread hunger and deteriorating security situation should dominate national conversations rather than political calculations.
Citing the World Bank, Obi said projections indicate that about 79 per cent of Nigerians could be living in poverty, describing the figure as alarming for a country with an estimated population of over 230 million people.
“The 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 stated.
The former governor also referenced warnings by the World Food Programme, which projected that about 35 million Nigerians could face severe hunger, while expressing concern over persistent kidnappings, insecurity, poor healthcare and the growing number of out-of-school children across the country.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s political leaders must shift their attention from electoral politics to policies capable of improving the welfare and security of citizens.
“The World Food Programme has just said 35 million Nigerians are going to face hunger. Nigerians are being kidnapped. Let’s talk about Nigeria,” he said.
Obi’s latest comments come amid increasing political debate ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures intensifying their criticism of the Tinubu administration over the country’s economic conditions, security challenges and the overall direction of governance.