A United Kingdom-trained lawyer, human rights activist and Oyo State governorship hopeful, Barrister Niyi Aborisade, on Monday called on President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to resign over what he described as worsening insecurity and economic hardship in the country.

Aborisade said the continued wave of kidnappings, rising cost of living, hunger and unresolved security challenges had eroded the basis for both leaders to remain in office.

This was contained in a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Drawing a comparison with the resignation of British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, Aborisade argued that public officials should take responsibility when they fail to address critical challenges confronting the people.

“Tinubu should resign as President. If Keir Starmer can resign as Prime Minister despite his success in some areas but failed only on immigration, then there is no reason why President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde should not resign,” he said.

According to him, the level of insecurity across the country, coupled with economic hardship and the impact of fuel price increases, demonstrates a failure of leadership.

“The level of insecurity in Nigeria, the untold hardship, the hunger and the unprecedented fuel increase have made it clear that Tinubu has failed the people of this country. He has no answer to the Nigerian problems,” Aborisade stated.

The human rights activist also criticised Governor Makinde’s handling of security issues in Oyo State, particularly the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from a secondary school in Oriire Local Government Area.

He noted that more than 40 days after the abduction, the victims were yet to regain their freedom, describing the development as evidence of the government’s inability to provide adequate security.

“Governor Seyi is the chief security officer of the state. The teachers and pupils who were abducted more than 30 days ago are still in the forest. He has no answer or solution but continues to force people out of their land,” he alleged.

Aborisade maintained that leadership should be measured by the ability to guarantee citizens’ safety and improve their welfare, insisting that both the federal and state governments had fallen short of those expectations.

“The basis for the duo to continue leading the country is no longer there, and the most honourable thing is to resign,” he added.

His comments come amid growing public concern over insecurity, economic pressures and the prolonged detention of abducted schoolchildren in parts of the country.