‘Sign of desperation’– Reuben Abati knocks Obi over four-year presidency vow

Reuben Abati, political analyst and journalist, has dismissed Peter Obi’s one-term presidency pledge as a “sign of desperation”, arguing that the idea will not gain traction, especially in Nigeria’s North.

Speaking on Arise TV on Sunday, Abati was responding to Obi’s recent vow to serve only a single four-year term if elected president in 2025.

In a personal statement released on Sunday on his official X page, the former Anambra State governor had described the vow as “sacrosanct,” citing the legacies of global figures like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela to support his position.

Obi noted that history has shown that many African leaders become corrupted by prolonged time in power. He argued that purposeful and accountable service, even if brief, defines true statesmanship.

“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,” he said.

But Abati questioned both the strategy and its feasibility, particularly in the current political climate.

“I’m saying that any politician that comes to you and says, ‘I’m going to do only one term,’ that’s a sign of desperation,” Abati said.

“It will not work. Just like all these gambits about serving food, carrying plates, and doing boy-oh-boy at parties that event organisers could better organise, it’s also a sign of desperation. It doesn’t work. It will never work.”

He emphasised that Nigerians should prioritise competence and ability over ethnic and religious considerations, noting that the country still faced unresolved contradictions.

“The civil war in this country has never ended. I don’t believe that northerners who are already aggrieved with a Yoruba president will just shift and embrace the possibility of an Igbo president,” he said.

“There are contradictions in this country that have not been sorted out. We should emphasise competence and ability.

“If the Nigerian people are politically educated to a point where they can vote for a competent person, regardless of where he comes from, regardless of his religion, that’s when this country will begin to move forward.”

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, had also criticised the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent statement pledging to serve only one term if elected president in 2025.

Onanuga described Obi as dishonest, arguing that his political record contradicts his current claim.

He questioned Obi’s performance over his two terms as governor, alleging that he failed to significantly transform Anambra State and casting doubt on his ability to govern a complex nation like Nigeria in just four years.