The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a sharp rebuke to former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his recent statement pledging to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
In a statement released on Sunday, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to a four-year term, asserting that rebuilding trust in leadership requires a renewed sense of integrity and accountability.
“In my political life, my word is my bond,” Obi stated. “When I entered politics in Anambra State, I made clear and measurable promises: to enhance education and healthcare, develop rural infrastructure, and manage public funds with prudence. I fulfilled those promises. I never swore by a shrine, nor have I been declared mentally unstable for keeping my word.”
He added, “My vow to serve only one term is a solemn commitment. Effective, transparent leadership doesn’t require a lifetime in power.”
However, the Presidency has dismissed Obi’s statement, accusing him of dishonesty and inconsistency. Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, took to X (formerly Twitter), labeling Obi a liar and citing past instances where, according to him, the former governor failed to uphold his promises.
Onanuga referenced an old video in which Obi declared he would never leave the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), only to later defect. “You’ve broken promises before and have a track record of bending the truth when it suits you,” Onanuga wrote. “You said you wouldn’t leave APGA, yet you did. What assurance is there that you won’t renege on your one-term promise?”
He further criticized Obi’s track record as governor: “You talk about transformational leadership, but what exactly did you achieve in Anambra after eight years in office? If you couldn’t fully transform a small state, what makes anyone believe you can achieve significant change in four years as President of a highly complex Nigeria?”
Onanuga concluded with a blunt message: “You’re not Mandela, Lincoln, or Kennedy. You’re not even close. Nigerians deserve leaders who are consistent and trustworthy. And that’s not you.”
