Popular broadcast journalist and Arise News anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised the reaction of presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, to comments made by former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The controversy followed Obi’s call for President Tinubu to resign from office, citing the country’s prevailing economic difficulties and security challenges.

Obi had reportedly argued that the circumstances prompting the resignation of British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, were comparable to issues currently confronting Nigeria. Based on that comparison, he maintained that President Tinubu should consider stepping down from office.

The remarks quickly attracted reactions from political figures and government officials, including Onanuga, who dismissed Obi’s position and described it as childish and lacking merit.

The presidential aide argued that there was no valid basis for comparing the political realities of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, emphasizing that the two countries operate different systems of government.

According to Onanuga, President Tinubu was democratically elected by Nigerians for a constitutionally defined four-year tenure and remains accountable to the electorate through that mandate. He also maintained that the President continues to enjoy support among many Nigerians.

Rufai Questions Presidency’s Position

Reacting during a morning programme on Arise News, Rufai Oseni challenged the Presidency’s criticism of Obi, arguing that similar demands had been made by members of the ruling party when they were in opposition.

The veteran broadcaster recalled that before the 2015 general elections, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had openly called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over issues affecting the country at the time.

Oseni questioned why Obi’s comments were being described as inappropriate when similar rhetoric had previously been used by politicians who are now in government.

“Was the APC also childish when it called for the resignation of Goodluck Jonathan? What they said Jonathan should resign for has happened under them too,” he stated.

He further referenced political statements made during the buildup to the 2015 elections, alleging that some APC members had threatened to establish a parallel government if the party was not declared winner of the presidential contest.

According to Oseni, such comments were far more controversial than a political opponent merely calling for the resignation of a sitting president.

“This was the same APC that called for a parallel government if they didn’t win the 2015 election. Do you know what parallel government is? That’s anarchy,” he said.

The broadcaster added that those statements were publicly defended at the time, making it difficult to understand why Obi’s remarks had generated such strong criticism from government officials.

Debate Sparks Fresh Political Reactions

The exchange has reignited discussions among political observers about the boundaries of political criticism and opposition discourse in Nigeria’s democracy.

Supporters of Obi argue that opposition figures have a constitutional right to express dissatisfaction with government performance and make political demands, including calls for resignation.

On the other hand, supporters of the administration insist that comparisons between Nigeria’s presidential system and the United Kingdom’s parliamentary model are misplaced, noting that both systems have different mechanisms for political accountability and leadership transitions.

The debate continues to generate reactions across political circles and social media platforms, with commentators offering differing views on whether Obi’s call was a legitimate expression of opposition politics or an unrealistic comparison between two distinct democratic systems.