The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has agreed with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, that President Bola Tinubu has done his best in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges, but argued that the President’s best is no longer sufficient to address the country’s worsening situation.

Obi said while he agreed with Adeboye’s assessment that Tinubu had tried his best, the real issue was whether the President possessed the capacity required to confront Nigeria’s security crisis, adding that Tinubu should “go home and rest.”

He made the remarks during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, uploaded on YouTube on Thursday, while responding to a question on why Nigerians should support his presidential ambition instead of another opposition candidate.

Asked why he deserved to be elected president, Obi urged Nigerians to judge him by his past record and current vision for the country.

“It’s for you to look at my past and look at what I’m saying now,” he said.

Responding to Adeboye’s recent comments on Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, Obi maintained that the respected cleric spoke the truth.

“Somebody asked me yesterday, they said that Pastor Adeboye said Tinubu has tried his best and he’s not happy.

“And I said, no, Pastor Adeboye remains a very revered, respected religious father, whom I believe in his genuineness and goodness.

“And what he said was correct. He said he has tried his best. He’s trying his best. That’s it. It’s the correct answer.

“The question to ask is: Is his best good enough? Where we find ourselves today, that leads to the issue of capacity.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that effective leadership is defined by competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character, insisting that Nigeria’s current security situation reflects a failure of leadership.

“When I talk about leadership, I say competence, capacity, compassion, commitment, character. These are the issues. President Tinubu is tired. He needs to go home and rest,” Obi said.»

Adeboye had earlier defended Tinubu against criticisms over the worsening insecurity across the country, arguing that the President had discharged his responsibility by issuing directives to the military.

Speaking during the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala organised by the Save Nigeria Group in Washington, D.C., on June 23, the cleric said it was unfair to accuse Tinubu of doing too little because a commander-in-chief was not expected to personally engage in combat.

“I don’t support those who are accusing the president of not doing enough. When the commander-in-chief has given instructions to his subordinates, he has done his bit. You don’t expect him to go and put on khaki and fight,” Adeboye had said.

Despite defending the President, Adeboye expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, warning that terrorism and kidnapping had spread beyond northern Nigeria into the southern part of the country.

The cleric also revealed that he advised Tinubu to give military commanders a 90-day ultimatum to end insecurity or resign, while urging the government to identify and prosecute sponsors of terrorism, whom he said were already known to the authorities.