Dare Babalola
The Presidency on Thursday faulted former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his declaration that he would serve only a single four-year term if elected president, describing the pledge as unconvincing in view of his political record.
Obi, in a video clip from an interview expected to air on News Central TV, had stated that he would leave office after one term and would not stay beyond four years “even with a gun to my head.”
Responding to the comment, the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigerians should be cautious about taking the former Anambra governor’s assurances seriously.
Writing on X, Onanuga argued that Obi’s past political decisions reflected a pattern of shifting loyalties and inconsistent commitments.
“If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide recalled that Obi once pledged allegiance to the All Progressives Grand Alliance during his time as governor of Anambra State before later moving to the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said Obi had continued to change political platforms over the years, insisting that such moves raise doubts about the reliability of his latest vow.
“Peter Obi’s pledges have always been short-lived. He ultimately abandoned APGA for the PDP, and since then, he has drifted from one political platform to another,” he stated.
Onanuga further maintained that Obi’s history in politics made it difficult to trust promises tied to future leadership plans.
“By his own actions, Peter Obi has shown that his word cannot be trusted. His promises are as fleeting as his political allegiances,” he added.
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, finishing behind Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
The former governor has remained active in opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election, with discussions continuing around possible coalition alignments and party realignments.
