Wait for elections, dont speak for Nigerians’ – Ologun blasts Obi for asking Tinubu to resign
Center for Responsive Governance Director Speaks on Calls for President’s Resignation
The General Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun, has urged caution regarding remarks made by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who recently called for the resignation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ologun asserted that Obi’s position does not reflect the sentiments of the broader Nigerian populace. He emphasized that while citizens have the right to demand accountability from their leaders, decisions concerning leadership changes should be made through elections.
Obi had compared Tinubu to former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, suggesting that the president step down due to what he described as the current administration’s failure to meet the nation’s expectations amidst deteriorating economic and social conditions.
During a Tuesday interview on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ologun acknowledged that questioning an elected president’s performance is permissible, including calls for resignation when significant dissatisfaction arises. However, he characterized Obi’s call as politically motivated.
Ologun further noted the rarity of voluntary resignations among democratically elected leaders, suggesting that such actions occur infrequently, regardless of criticism or public pressure.
He cautioned against reducing governance assessments to emotional responses and emphasized that public discourse should reflect a range of perspectives rather than singular opinions positioned as consensus.
“Historically, the number of democratically elected presidents that have resigned is strikingly low, regardless of the circumstances they faced, including their health,” he said.
Ologun also raised concerns about the credibility of public statements tied to the political affiliations and histories of their authors. He advised audiences to critically evaluate claims before accepting them as truth.
“Individuals should scrutinize statements and figures presented in public discourse, especially those by political figures,” he asserted, alluding to Obi’s past record of misrepresenting data.
In conclusion, Ologun reiterated that most elected officials complete their full terms unless faced with exceptional circumstances such as serious health issues or impeachment threats.
