You Need Schooling” – Presidency Fires Back At Peter Obi Over Call For Tinubu’s Resignation

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said Obi’s comment reflected not the position of a statesman, but what he termed the outburst of a politician who fails to distinguish between political opposition and constitutional governance.

Dare stressed that Nigeria operates a constitutional presidential democracy where elected leaders serve fixed terms and can only leave office through elections, constitutional provisions such as incapacity, or the expiration of their mandate. He further noted that the system is not a parliamentary one where governments can fall through votes of no confidence.

He added that as a former governor and presidential candidate, Obi is expected to fully understand the constitutional structure governing the office he aspires to hold.

The presidential aide also accused Obi of increasingly adopting what he described as pessimistic and alarmist rhetoric, alleging that the former governor frequently portrays Nigeria as a nation in decline.

According to Dare, Obi has drifted away from the image of moderation that once attracted admiration from many Nigerians, instead engaging in what he called selective outrage in his public commentary.

He further argued that while Obi continues to criticise the current administration on national issues, he allegedly overlooks progress recorded in areas such as economic growth, improvements in foreign reserves, revenue generation, infrastructure development, and security operations.

Dare maintained that true leadership is demonstrated through balanced judgment, composure, and the ability to provide solutions rather than persistent criticism.

He also stated that the presidency should not be viewed as an activist platform or a “permanent grievance machine.”

The presidential aide concluded by saying that Obi’s call for President Tinubu’s resignation may have negatively affected his own political credibility, insisting that he must decide whether to be regarded as a serious contender for leadership or remain a perpetual critic of those in power.