The Nigerian Presidency has clarified its stance on calls for the resignation of President Bola Tinubu due to insecurity, drawing a distinction between the current situation and a similar scenario during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, addressed an old statement made by Tinubu in 2014, in which he urged Jonathan to resign following the kidnapping of the Chibok girls by terrorists. At the time, Tinubu stated that in any civilized country, Jonathan should have resigned due to the security situation.
Bwala defended Tinubu’s past call for Jonathan’s resignation as legitimate, citing the difference in approach to solving the security problem. He emphasized that being confronted with a problem is not the issue, but rather the lack of a solution. Bwala noted that security challenges exist in every part of the world, including the United States, which has a higher crime rate than Nigeria.
The special adviser argued that individuals have the right to express their opinions, including calling for the president’s resignation, but they should also propose solutions. He criticized the approach of the Jonathan administration, stating that they were in denial about the Chibok girls’ abduction and lacked a clear plan to address the issue.
In contrast, Bwala implied that the current administration is proactive in addressing security concerns. He suggested that calling for President Tinubu’s resignation without offering alternative solutions is unjustified and amounts to laziness on the part of those making such demands.
The clarification comes as the Tinubu administration faces criticism over its handling of insecurity in the country. The distinction drawn by the presidency highlights the complexities of addressing security challenges and the need for constructive dialogue and problem-solving approaches. As the debate continues, the administration’s response is likely to be closely watched by Nigerians and the international community.
