2027: ‘Obasanjo, Buhari Left No Legacy’ – Farotimi Challenges Obi’s One-term Agenda

Dele Farotimi, a legal practitioner and advocate for civil liberties, has weighed in on the idea put forward by Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential flagbearer, regarding a single-term presidency.

According to Farotimi, this isn’t the first instance of Obi expressing such a stance. He pointed out that the former Anambra State governor had already voiced similar intentions during his 2023 campaign trail.

Yet, Farotimi believes it is essential to look deeper into Obi’s reasoning rather than take it at face value.

 “A man says he’s going to spend one term. One term to do what? I think we should ask that question,” he said during a Sunday night conversation.

He continued by emphasizing that short-term ambitions shouldn’t be mistaken for a grand vision:

“If I have a vision that can be contained within my lifetime, then it’s not a vision, it’s just an ambition. If it’s a vision, I will need my children’s children to complete that task.

 “So, if a man says, ‘I’m going to run for one term.’ I am more interested in asking questions about his plans. What would you do with the one term?”

Farotimi argued further that the impact of leadership isn’t necessarily tied to tenure length. In his view, individuals who enter office with clear, actionable strategies can effect change regardless of time constraints.

He criticized past and current national leaders for squandering their time in power, suggesting that longevity in office does not always equate to progress.

 “Obasanjo had eight years; what did he do with them? Buhari had eight years; what did he do with it? He ruined Nigeria. Tinubu has had two years, he’s taking us back like 50 years.

 “So, it’s not really about how much time the person spends; it’s a function of what they are doing with the time that they have,” he stated.

Peter Obi, for his part, has promised to serve only a single four-year term if elected President, promising to hand back power to the northern region in line with an informal understanding between Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

This pledge has ignited a mix of praise and skepticism, with critics suggesting that Obi may be overreaching in his political aspirations.