The Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his promise to serve solely a single four-year term if he is elected as the President of Nigeria.
Obi initially made this commitment during a widely attended X Space session titled #PeterObiOnParallelFacts, which attracted thousands of live listeners in June.
Nevertheless, this one-term pledge has elicited mixed responses, with numerous individuals questioning his authenticity.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, the former governor of Anambra State reiterated that his dedication to serving only one term is unwavering.
“In my political journey, my word is my bond… My promise to serve just one four-year term is a serious commitment, grounded in my belief that effective and transparent leadership does not necessitate a lifetime,” he stated.
He contended that longevity in office does not equate to success, emphasizing that it is meaningful and accountable service, even if short-lived, that characterizes genuine statesmanship.
He pointed out that history has demonstrated that the longer many African leaders hold power, the more susceptible they become to corruption.
To bolster his argument, Obi referenced Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela as leaders who left significant legacies without serving two terms.
The current governor of Obi’s home state, Chukwuma Soludo, recently questioned the reasoning behind some politicians’ pledges to serve only one term, suggesting that such claims “require psychiatric evaluation.”
In reply, however, Obi remarked that those who doubt his one-term promise are simply judging him by their own criteria.
“Recently, I became aware of two comments directed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term. One individual noted that even if I swore by a shrine, I would still not be trusted. Another implied that anyone discussing the intention to serve only one term should undergo psychiatric assessment.
I comprehend the foundation of their skepticism. They are evaluating me based on their own criteria – where political commitments are often disregarded. However, they overlook, or perhaps deliberately choose to disregard, that Peter Obi is not of that ilk. I possess a verifiable history that resonates more profoundly than mere conjecture.
“If making such a commitment renders me suitable for psychiatric assessment, then we might as well scrutinize the mental acuity of those who drafted our Constitution, which explicitly outlines a four-year renewable term.
“I assert unequivocally: if elected, I will not serve a day beyond four years in office. Indeed, I hold the belief that service should be significant, not perpetual.
