The advice was not that the king should permanently resign the office of ruler, but that he should “for once” be ruled by his people.
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 12:7
1 Kings 12:7
7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.