The General Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun, has criticised calls by Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi for President Bola Tinubu to resign, arguing that such views do not necessarily reflect the position of all Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu, Ologun stated that citizens have every right to question the performance of elected leaders and demand accountability. However, he maintained that decisions on leadership change should ultimately be determined through democratic elections.
His remarks followed Obi’s recent suggestion that President Tinubu should consider stepping down, citing concerns over the country’s economic and social challenges.
Ologun described the call as a political statement rather than a reflection of national consensus. According to him, political figures are free to express dissatisfaction with an administration, including advocating resignation, but voters remain the ultimate judges of political leadership.
He also pointed out that voluntary resignations by democratically elected presidents are uncommon across the world, regardless of public criticism or challenges faced during their tenure. He argued that most leaders complete their terms unless forced out by extraordinary circumstances such as impeachment proceedings or severe health conditions.
The governance advocate further warned against presenting personal opinions as the collective view of Nigerians, stressing that public assessments of government performance should be based on facts and broader public sentiment.
Ologun also questioned the accuracy of some of Obi’s public statements, claiming that figures and statistics presented by the former presidential candidate should be independently verified before being accepted as factual.
According to him, the credibility of political commentary often depends on the reliability and track record of those making the claims. He urged Nigerians to critically examine information from political actors rather than accepting it at face value.
He concluded that while criticism remains a legitimate part of democracy, leadership transitions in a democratic system should be decided through the electoral process rather than calls for resignation.
