The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 election, saying the President is “tired” and no longer has the capacity to tackle Nigeria’s mounting economic and security challenges.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Sunday Politics with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, Obi argued that the Tinubu who was governor of Lagos State, is not the one that is parading as President today.
“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, a former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, said.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria was “headed in the wrong direction” and required a leader with the energy and commitment to reverse the country’s fortunes.
“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’s remarks came as he painted a grim picture of the country’s economic and social conditions, lamenting what he described as rising poverty, hunger, insecurity and poor governance.
He said successive reports from international organisations showed the scale of Nigeria’s challenges but accused political actors of focusing on personalities rather than addressing issues affecting ordinary 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 presidential candidate also referenced food insecurity, saying millions of Nigerians faced 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.”
‘His Best Is Not Enough’
Responding to comments by former US President Donald Trump commending Tinubu’s efforts against insecurity, Obi acknowledged the praise 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.”
Obi cited recent abductions in Zamfara State as evidence that insecurity remained a major national emergency.
“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.”
‘Poverty Fuels Insecurity’
The former governor argued that tackling insecurity required addressing its underlying economic causes, particularly widespread poverty and poor access to education.
“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.”
Obi said he would adopt a more hands-on leadership approach if elected president, insisting he would personally oversee security responses across the country.
He said, “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.”
‘I’m Desperate To See Nigeria Work’
On his own presidential ambition, Obi insisted he was driven not by personal ambition but by a desire to see the country succeed.
“I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
He added that he would support anyone capable of delivering good governance.
“If it’s working, I’ll support whatever makes it work.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s trajectory, Obi said he remained saddened by what he described as the country’s continued decline.
“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 vision remained to build “a Nigeria that is united and peaceful” where every citizen has equal opportunity regardless of tribe or religion.
‘My Record Speaks For Me’
The former Anambra State governor argued that his actions over the years, rather than political rhetoric, reflected his commitment to every part of the country.
Obi cited numerous humanitarian visits and interventions across northern Nigeria, saying he had consistently supported communities affected by conflict and natural disasters.
He recalled travelling to Borno State to condole with Sheriff after the killing of the former governor’s brother during the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“At the onset of this Boko Haram issue… his own brother was killed. I travelled to Borno State to console him. When people didn’t want to go there, I went to Borno State.”
He also said he visited the state after devastating floods, donated ₦50 million, met with the governor and the Shehu of Borno, and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
According to him, similar interventions have taken him to several northern states, including Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Sokoto.
“I’ve been to the most troubled parts of the North… I’ve been to Benue up to four times, visiting the various affected communities… I’ve spent Christmas and New Year in IDP camps.”
Obi said he had funded boreholes in several northern communities and supported educational and health institutions, including agricultural projects at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto.
“I’ve built boreholes in Gombe, in Kaduna, in every part of the North. When the University of Sokoto Agricultural Faculty said all they need is a borehole for their farm, I did it,” Obi said.
He added that he had also visited schools, hospitals and communities across the South-West and North-Central regions, insisting that no contemporary Nigerian politician had travelled as extensively across the country by road.
“There’s no politician today in Nigeria… that has been able to travel places that I have been by road… because I want the country to be together, and I understand the people.”
‘An Obi Presidency Will Heal Nigeria’
Addressing concerns about whether Nigeria had moved beyond divisions rooted in the Civil War, Obi said his presidency would mark the beginning of national healing.
“A Peter Obi presidency will commence the healing and the unity that is required to stabilise and build a better Nigeria.”
He argued that while Nigeria should acknowledge its history, it must not allow the past to determine its future.
“You cannot be trapped in the process of yesterday. Those who are trapped in the process of yesterday will lose the future,” he said.
“We have a history, but we must not be trapped in it. It must not deprive us of tomorrow.”
According to Obi, his goal is to build a country where every Nigerian can thrive regardless of ethnicity or religion.
“I want the child of Nigeria to be able to grow up in Nigeria, go to school, and live his life without thinking about his tribe, without thinking about yesterday, without thinking about his religion, but as a Nigerian, proud of it.”
‘I Have Never Labelled Northerners’
Responding to allegations that he had made divisive remarks about northern Nigerians, Obi described the claims as false.
“That’s a lie. It never happened.”
He said his closest aides and associates over the years had included several northerners and Muslims.
“My ADC was from Kano, and he’s a Muslim.”
Obi also said all cooks who served him during his eight years as governor of Anambra State were from northern Nigeria, while he sponsored Muslims from the state on annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
“As governor, I was paying for Muslims living in Anambra to go to Hajj.”
He further revealed that he currently supports Almajiri schools in Kano and Bauchi, as well as a School of Nursing in Bauchi.
Focus On National Issues
The former governor said political debates should centre on the country’s pressing challenges rather than personal attacks.
“Instead of us discussing the problems of the country, people come before you to discuss Peter Obi.”
He maintained that poverty, insecurity, education and healthcare should dominate national conversations.
Obi maintained that his vision was to build an inclusive nation where every citizen feels a sense of belonging.
“I will never divide Nigeria. I will unite Nigeria. I will show love to every part of Nigeria and make sure things are done differently, because I’m going to involve everybody.”
With Channels Television report