Rufai Defends Obi’s Tinubu Resignation Call, Cites APC History
Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has defended Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, arguing that similar demands were made by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when they were in opposition.
The controversy erupted after Obi suggested that Tinubu should consider stepping down over the country’s worsening economic conditions and persistent security challenges.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate drew comparisons with recent political developments abroad, saying leaders must be prepared to accept responsibility when governance falls short of public expectations.
Reacting to Obi’s remarks, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga dismissed the suggestion, insisting there was no basis for comparing Nigeria’s political system with that of the United Kingdom.
He also described Obi’s position as inappropriate, stressing that Tinubu was elected to serve a constitutionally guaranteed four-year term.
However, speaking during a live television programme on Tuesday, Rufai challenged the Presidency’s response and accused government officials of applying double standards.
The broadcaster recalled that before winning the 2015 presidential election, the APC repeatedly called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over issues of insecurity and governance.
According to Rufai, those demands were widely defended by opposition figures at the time, making it difficult to understand why Obi’s comments are now being portrayed as unacceptable.
He further noted that some APC leaders had advanced even more controversial political positions during the run-up to the 2015 elections, yet those statements were treated as part of normal democratic engagement.
Rufai maintained that calls for resignation, whether one agrees with them or not, remain a legitimate form of political expression in a democracy and should be debated on their merits rather than dismissed outright.
His remarks have added fresh momentum to the debate sparked by Obi’s comments, with supporters of both camps continuing to clash over the propriety of demanding a president’s resignation in the midst of national challenges.
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