The Presidency has lambasted former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, over his call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, describing the demand as reckless and a display of ignorance of the constitution.
The Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, Sunday Dare, said Obi’s latest comment was not the intervention of a statesman, but “the outburst of a politician” unable to distinguish political opposition from constitutional reality.
It was quoted Dare as saying that Nigeria operates a constitutional presidential democracy where presidents are elected for a fixed term and can only leave office through elections, constitutional processes, incapacity or expiration of their tenure.
“Nigeria is not a parliamentary system where governments come and go on votes of confidence. “Nigeria is a constitutional presidential democracy.” he said.
Obi, he said, as a former governor and presidential candidate should know the constitutional tenets of the office he is aspiring to occupy.
The presidential aide accused Obi of embracing what he called pessimism, alarmism and repeated declarations of national collapse.
He observed that Obi has strayed from the restrained image that earned him admiration among some Nigerians.
“His politics has become a selective outrage politics,” said Dare.
While Obi often criticises the administration over national challenges, he allegedly ignores progress made in the areas of economic growth, foreign reserves and revenue improvement, infrastructure and security operations, he said.
Dare said that leadership is measured by judgment, composure and the ability to provide solutions, not by constant criticism.
“A serious national leader sees both challenges and progress. A serious leader brings alternatives,” he said.
The presidency is not an activist platform, protest movement or “permanent grievance machine,” he added.
Obi’s demand for Tinubu’s resignation had weakened his own presidential credentials, the presidential aide said.
“Peter Obi has done more damage to his own presidential credentials than any political opponent could have done, by calling for the resignation of President Tinubu,” Dare said.
He told Obi to make up his mind whether he wanted to be taken seriously as a contender for power or remain a critic of those in office.