“Peter Obi’s One-Term Promise Sparks Political Backlash: Presidency Questions Credibility”
By Nexio News
Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi is facing sharp criticism from the presidency after reiterating his pledge to serve only one term if elected. The controversy follows Obi’s recent interview on News Central Television, where he argued that Nigeria’s challenges demand focused, short-term leadership.
Obi’s One-Term Pledge
During the interview, Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, stated: “I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day longer than four years.” He emphasized that Nigeria’s economic and security crises require urgent action rather than prolonged political maneuvering.
However, the presidency has dismissed his promise as untrustworthy. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, took to X (formerly Twitter) to challenge Obi’s credibility, citing his shifting political alliances.
Presidency’s Counterattack
Onanuga accused Obi of repeatedly abandoning political commitments, pointing to his past defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything,” Onanuga wrote.
He further claimed that Obi had once sworn loyalty to APGA but later reneged, labeling him a “political rolling stone” with a history of broken pledges.
Obi’s Critique of Tinubu’s Government
Beyond his one-term pledge, Obi also launched a scathing critique of President Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of worsening Nigeria’s economic and security crises. He highlighted rising debt, food insecurity, and unchecked violence, stating: “It’s only two years that Nigeria has become the hungriest country in the world.”
In a striking comparison, he noted that war-torn Ukraine is donating grain to Nigeria while the country struggles with agricultural mismanagement. “Instead of intervening when there was a crisis, we went to import food and killed all the farmers,” he said.
Political Fallout
The exchange underscores deepening divisions in Nigeria’s political landscape as opposition figures like Obi challenge the ruling party’s policies. With economic hardship and insecurity dominating public discourse, promises of reform—and skepticism toward them—are likely to remain central in the lead-up to future elections.
As the debate continues, Nigerians are left weighing Obi’s reformist rhetoric against accusations of inconsistency, while the Tinubu administration defends its record amid growing discontent.
— Reported by Nexio News
