Presidency mocks Obi over one-term pledge, cites broken promises

DDM News

The presidency has responded harshly to Peter Obi’s recent vow to serve only one term if elected president of Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Bola Tinubu-led government, through presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, issued a scathing rebuttal on Sunday.

Onanuga dismissed Obi’s self-comparison to world leaders like Mandela and Lincoln, calling it misleading and politically opportunistic.

He noted that Obi, while Governor of Anambra State, contested and won a second term, questioning the sincerity of his current promise.

Obi had earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter) that his one-term pledge was inspired by iconic leaders who served short but impactful terms.

Referencing Mandela, Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy, Obi stated his commitment was grounded in principle, not ambition.

However, the presidency questioned why Obi did not apply the same principle during his tenure in Anambra.

Onanuga remarked that Obi’s second-term victory in 2010 came only because of a divided opposition, and asked what transformation he achieved in eight years.

According to the statement, if Obi couldn’t significantly develop a small state like Anambra, it casts doubt on his ability to govern a complex country like Nigeria in just four years.

The presidency also accused Obi of inconsistencies and breaching previous political promises.

Onanuga cited Obi’s departure from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), despite earlier assurances he would never leave the party.

The statement warned Nigerians to scrutinize Obi’s history before trusting his new promises, asserting that he has a record of backtracking.

“You speak of integrity and trust,” the presidency said, “but you broke your word on not leaving APGA and now parade yourself as a symbol of honesty.”

Obi had emphasized that Mandela’s refusal to run for a second term was a moral choice rooted in leadership responsibility.

Obi argued that public office should not be about self-interest but about service to the people, even if for a short time.

He highlighted that short-term leadership, if purposeful, can leave a lasting legacy.

The presidency, however, insisted that Obi’s narrative was aimed at misleading Nigerians for political gain.

The exchange adds another layer of tension between Obi and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), months after the disputed 2023 presidential election.

Observers note that while Obi has maintained growing youth support, the presidency sees his rising popularity as a continued political threat.

With the 2027 elections already looming in national discourse, the war of words between opposition leaders and the government appears to be intensifying.

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