Reuben Abati, former deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has criticized Peter Obi’s pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2025, calling it a desperate move with little political appeal, particularly in northern Nigeria.
During an appearance on Arise TV, Abati described Obi’s commitment as a "sign of desperation" and doubted its effectiveness in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“Any politician who tells you, ‘I’ll serve just one term,’ is acting out of desperation,” Abati said. *“It won’t work. Just like other gimmicks—serving food at events, carrying plates, or playing the ‘boy-oh-boy’ role—it’s all desperation. Such tactics don’t and will never work.”
Obi had reiterated his one-term pledge on his X (formerly Twitter) account, calling it “sacrosanct” and citing leaders like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela as examples of impactful leadership within short tenures. He argued that prolonged power often leads to corruption in Africa and that meaningful change doesn’t require extended time in office.
However, Abati dismissed the pledge as impractical, emphasizing that Nigeria’s political issues run deeper than personal promises.
“The civil war in Nigeria never truly ended,” he said. “Northerners, already discontent with a Yoruba president, won’t simply shift support to an Igbo candidate. The country’s unresolved contradictions must be addressed first.”
He added that competence, not ethnicity or religion, should determine leadership. “Only when Nigerians are politically educated enough to vote based on ability—not origin or faith—will the country progress.”
0 Comments