By Charles Olewezi
The Peter Obi Media Office on Thursday told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he cannot govern by proxy, conduct the 2027 election campaign through surrogates and expect vote from Nigerians he is allegedly fearing to face.
President Tinubu had told his party leaders at the inauguration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) that the demands of governance may keep him away from the campaign trail.
The Obi Media said in a statement that “Nigerians deserve to ask: If he cannot make time to face the electorate. Why should surrogates be sent to ask for their votes? The President cannot delegate accountability. He cannot outsource the defence of his record to political allies, party chieftains, and praise singers while millions of Nigerians struggle with the consequences of his government’s policies.”
The statement, signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, further reads: “Surrogates can speak for the President, but they cannot answer for his failures. They can repeat his promises, but they cannot make those promises a reality. They can campaign in his name, but they cannot carry his responsibility.
If the administration has delivered on its promises, why should the President be reluctant to defend that record before Nigerians himself?
“If the economy is improving, let him explain how that improvement is reflected in the cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and necessities. If his policies are working, let him face the citizens who want to know when the hardship will end.
“Mr President, governance is not an excuse to avoid accountability. In a democracy, governance is the very record a candidate must defend before asking for another mandate.
“Nigerians are not being asked to elect your surrogates. They are being asked to assess you, your policies, your promises, and your performance. No surrogate can stand in your place when it is time to answer for the state of the nation.
“You cannot send surrogates to collect the votes while keeping the President away from the questions. You cannot delegate the campaign and expect Nigerians to forget who must answer for the record.
The Nigerian people deserve a direct conversation with their President, not a relay of rehearsed talking points from political messengers.
If there is a record to defend, let the President defend it. If there are promises yet to be fulfilled, let him explain them. And if Nigerians are being asked to renew his mandate, let him have the courage to face their questions.
A President who seeks the people’s mandate must be prepared to face the people. Surrogates may carry the message, but they cannot carry the burden of accountability.”