Presidency Criticizes Obi’s One‑Term Promise, Saying His Words Are Untrustworthy

By Ayobami Okerinde

The Presidency has criticized former presidential candidate Peter Obi for reiterating his pledge to serve only one term if elected, arguing that his political record undermines confidence in his statements.

Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser for Information and Strategy, made the comment in a post on X in response to Obi’s recent interview on News Central Television.

During the interview, Obi declared that he would limit himself to a single presidential term to promote stability, emphasizing that Nigeria’s pressing challenges demand decisive and focused leadership.

“I want to be a one-term president because of stability. I would not stay a day longer than four years,” Obi said.

Obi also criticized President Tinubu’s administration for its borrowing practices, insecurity, and food policies, claiming that Nigeria had become poorer and less secure in the past two years.

“It’s only two years that someone used to borrow more than all the previous governments put together. It’s only two years that Nigeria has become the hungriest country in the world. A president of Nigeria can stay in Abuja, and 200 people die in Jos or in Niger or Benue, and you’re still sitting here. When you go to theatres of war, you know how to contribute. So they’ve failed in everything. I said Ukraine, which is at war, is donating grain to Nigeria. Look at what happened to us with our farmers. Instead of intervening when there was a crisis, we went to import food and killed all the farmers.”

Onanuga responded by accusing Obi of a pattern of abandoning political affiliations and breaking past commitments.

“If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything,” Onanuga wrote.

Onanuga noted that Obi had once pledged loyalty to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, only to later switch to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Consider his record: while in APGA, he famously placed himself under a self-curse, vowing never to leave the party that made him governor. He gave his word to the Ikemba, even on his deathbed, swearing loyalty and fidelity to APGA. Yet, Peter Obi’s pledges have always been short-lived. He ultimately abandoned APGA