The Presidency has criticised Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, over his renewed pledge to serve only one term if elected president in the 2027 general election.
The New Daily Prime reported that the 64-year-old politician reaffirmed his promise in a statement issued on Sunday while responding to criticism from Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and another unnamed individual.
Obi referenced Abraham Lincoln, regarded as America’s greatest president, who served just a single term in office, yet whose legacy remains a model of principled leadership.
He also cited John F. Kennedy, noting that although the former US President did not complete a full term, his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations.
Additionally, he referenced Nelson Mandela, who, despite widespread public pressure, chose to serve only one term as South Africa’s president.
However, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed Obi’s remarks in a post on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday.
He declared that Obi’s lies have once again been exposed.
Onanuga argued that Obi was neither Mandela, Lincoln, nor Kennedy, and criticised him for speaking as though he had never held public office.
He questioned why Obi sought re-election as Anambra State Governor in 2010 if he truly believed in a single-term principle, noting that he narrowly secured victory due to a fragmented 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 had 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?
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“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)”, Onanuga noted.
Onanuga questioned Obi’s credibility, asking how Nigerians could trust him when he failed to honour a simple promise not to defect from his political party.
