Modu Sheriff Says Obi Not Qualified To Demand Tinubu’s Resignation
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has criticised Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over Nigeria’s security challenges. He alleged that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate supports the Biafra cause and therefore lacks the moral standing to make such a demand.
Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme. He reacted to Obi’s recent call on President Tinubu to resign or step aside over the country’s worsening insecurity.
The former governor alleged that Obi had never condemned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or its ideology. He argued that Obi’s position on the issue makes him “the most unqualified person” to call for the president’s resignation.
“This country, Nigeria, fought a civil war. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to fight that war to keep the country together, both leaders from the north and the south,” the former governor said.
“The cause of the war was Ojukwu’s demand to secede. Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria.
“How? Because he believes in Biafra. He never condemned Biafra. He never condemned IPOB.
“Biafra is secession. Our leaders fought to keep the country together. He wants to divide Nigeria.”
When asked how a politician seeking Nigeria’s presidency could also seek to divide the country, Sheriff challenged Obi to publicly reject the allegation.
“He should deny it,” the former Borno governor said.
“He should come to this station and say he doesn’t believe in dividing the country.
“He should deny it. I am confronting him, telling him this is what he stands for.”
Sheriff maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must be committed to preserving the country’s unity.
“People like Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, T.Y. Danjuma, General Shua, and General Abacha all have bullet wounds on their bodies because they fought to keep Nigeria together,” he said.
“Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section.”
Obi has repeatedly called on President Tinubu to resign in recent weeks. On June 22, the former Anambra State governor described the administration as a “monumental failure” and urged the president to leave office. He said his position was influenced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation speech, which addressed public dissatisfaction over economic conditions and unfulfilled campaign promises.
On Sunday, Obi renewed the demand after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly stated that Nigeria failed to record some public spending in various budgets. He said the development raised fresh concerns about what he described as widespread corruption under the Tinubu administration.