The Presidency has hit back at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi after he reaffirmed his pledge to serve only one term if elected President in 2027.
Peter Obi’s fresh affirmation of a one-term presidency provoked a response from President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who slammed the former Anambra governor for what he described as habitual inconsistency and political dishonesty.
Reacting in a post on X, Onanuga dismissed Obi’s vow as dishonest and politically convenient, recalling the former governor’s record in Anambra State.
“Peter Obi, the liar, is exposed again,” Onanuga wrote.
“You’re neither a Mandela nor a Lincoln or a Kennedy. You sound as if you have never held an elected office before. You sought re-election as Anambra Governor in 2010, and narrowly won courtesy of a divided opposition. Why didn’t you walk away after only one term in office? Meanwhile after serving two terms, did Anambra look like a state that has been transformed? If you couldn’t transform a small Anambra after 8 years, is there a guarantee that you’ll do anything significant under 4 years as President of a complex and complicated Nigeria?”
Onanuga went further, questioning Obi’s political credibility and consistency.
“You talk about keeping your promises or your vow being your bond, but you and I know that’s not true. You have broken previous promises and usually lie with reckless abandon, sometimes needlessly. For example, you said you won’t leave APGA but you left (the reason for your exit is immaterial because if we’re to make allowance for excuses, you’ll definitely have an excuse to break your one-term vow). You talk about trust, but how do you expect people to trust someone who can’t keep a simple promise not to leave a political party?”
Onanuga’s remarks echo earlier scepticism voiced by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who dismissed politicians’ one-term pledge as unrealistic and unserious.
“How can anybody with a functioning brain say that?” Soludo had queried.
“Do you think you’re speaking to fools? You come to people and say you will do only one term.”
Reacting in a statement posted on X on Sunday, Obi defended the viability of a one-term presidency by citing examples of globally respected leaders whose impact was not defined by time in office.
“One of the greatest American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, served only four years, yet his legacy endures as a model of principled leadership.
“Another iconic figure, John F. Kennedy, did not even complete a full term, yet his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations.
In Africa, Nelson Mandela, revered globally as a symbol of justice and reconciliation, chose to serve only one term as President of South Africa, despite immense public pressure to stay longer.”
Obi continued: “Indeed, history shows that the longer many African leaders remain in power, the more likely they are to be corrupted by it. Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service — however brief — that defines true statesmanship.”
The former governor declared: “It is within this context that I reiterate my vow: I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct.”
Addressing the doubts expressed by critics, Obi said: “Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term.
“One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed. Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation.”
He added: “I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards, where political promises are made to be broken. But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth. I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation.”
