Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, withdrew his recognition of Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria on Friday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Tinubu as the victor of the 2023 presidential election, defeating Labour Party candidate Obi.
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The former governor of Anambra State and former PDP vice presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar are contesting Tinubu’s victory in court. Both of the candidates who finished third and second, respectively, assert that they won the election and want the court to remove Tinubu from office.
Neither Obi nor Atiku have addressed Tinubu as president since his inauguration on Monday, May 29, 2023, when he succeeded former President Muhammadu Buhari. But on Friday, Obi did.
President Tinubu was received to a heroic welcome to Lagos, a state he governed from 1999 to 2007 and has been influential in choosing successive leaders on Wednesday. It was his first visit since he assumed office as Nigeria president.
Hundereds of his supporters and political dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu were on the ground to give him a state welcome.
However, the visit became a major point of criticism for the president after a long motorcade accompanied him to his new private residence. Multiple SUVs were seen speeding ahead and behind Tinubu’s car. This is at a time Nigerians are groaning over the increase in petrol prices due to fuel subsidy removal announced by Tinubu during his inaugural presidential speech.
Tinubu’s aide on digital media Olusegun Dada in a tweet said “the official vehicles of the president and principal aides make up less than 10% of the Motorcade” under criticism.
“The other vehicles in the Presidential motorcade belong to Several State Governors, heads of all security agencies, Party Leaders and political associates of the President who were all at the airport to receive him,” Dada said.
Amid a wave of critisms and defence from Tinubu’s supporters, Obi said “sacrifices for a better Nigeria must start from the leaders at all levels of government.”
The Labour party candidate in the initial tweet said he is yet to see the video “allegedly showing Mr President with about a 120-car convoy.”
Hours after his comment, Obi deleted the tweet and replaced with another that does not address Tinubu as president.
“We cannot continue to preach for the people to sacrifice without sacrificing too,” Obi said in a later tweet. “The sacrifices must now start from the leaders visibly, and measurably at all times because the people are suffering. We must now be at the forefront of addressing the suffering.”
