‘We need him to go home’ — Obi says Tinubu lacks energy to lead Nigeria

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says President Bola Tinubu must leave office in 2027, accusing his administration of worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Obi spoke in Abuja on Monday at the inauguration of the NDC’s national campaign council.

The former governor of Anambra said Nigeria is facing a crisis under Tinubu’s leadership, insisting that Nigerians are seeking a change of government.

“Tinubu has led this country into a crisis. Today, everything is collapsing. From our engagements across Nigeria, Nigerians are looking for new leadership, and we assure you that we will create that leadership,” Obi said.

“Today, President Tinubu has led us with a government that lacks competence, capacity, compassion and commitment to deal with Nigeria’s problems.

“Above all, President Tinubu does not have the energy and resolve required to lead Nigeria today, and he must go home.

“We need him to go home. Nigeria cannot be governed with the energy he has today. Nigeria needs a president who will be available and present.”

Obi also criticised the administration over poverty, unemployment, corruption and insecurity, saying the country had recorded poor results across key development indicators.

Obi faulted Tinubu for launching his re-election campaign under the All Progressives Congress (APC) without accounting for the funds borrowed by his administration and its achievements under the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets.

“In the past three years, President Tinubu has foisted a reign of corruption on Nigeria. He has made history as the president presiding over the highest number of poor people, according to recent reports,” he said.

“Just last Friday, President Tinubu launched his second general campaign rather than explain to Nigerians what he has used the billions he borrowed to do.

“Rather than explain what he has achieved with the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets, he chose to blame the opposition for creating poverty.

“Let me assure you: we will not lead a government of blame. The purpose of governance is to solve problems, not to blame people. I will not blame anybody. We will create that new Nigeria that is possible.

“We need a revolution that will turn this country around, and we are committed to that. The APC-led government under President Tinubu has failed Nigeria.

“We will start by fighting the most important problem crippling Nigeria today: corruption. We will ensure that we tackle corruption head-on in a manner nobody has tackled it before.”

Obi further cited Nigeria’s worsening position on global terrorism and hunger indices, as well as rising poverty levels, to argue that the country’s situation had deteriorated under Tinubu.

“There is no single indicator under Tinubu that has improved. When he came into office, our record on terrorism was better. Today, we are number four,” he said.

“When he came in, we were ranked 109th on the hunger list. Today, we are the 117th. When he came in, our poverty ranking was below 140. Today, we are above 140.

“I can go on and on. No single indicator is working, except hunger, and this is because of corruption.”

The inauguration was attended by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC vice-presidential candidate; Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader; members of the national working committee; and other party leaders. (TheCable)