Dele Farotimi Backs Peter Obi’s One-Term Proposal

Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has supported presidential candidate Peter Obi’s suggestion for a single-term presidency, contending that prolonged periods in office have not produced significant advancements under Nigeria’s previous leaders.

“(Olusegun) Obasanjo had eight years — what did he do with it? (Muhammadu) Buhari had eight years — what did he do with it? He ruined Nigeria. (President Bola) Tinubu has had two years, and he is taking us back 50 years,” Farotimi stated on Monday during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“It’s not about how much time a person spends in office; it’s about what they do with that time.”

Obasanjo held the presidency from May 1999 to May 2007, while the late Buhari governed from May 2015 to May 2023 before transferring power to the current president, Bola Tinubu.

Farotimi, recognized for his work on justice and systemic change, emphasized that effective leadership does not necessitate an extended term in office.

“I first heard this one-term presidency idea from Peter Obi during the election cycle. If I ever run for the presidency of Nigeria, I wouldn’t need more than two years to do everything I need to do. The real question is: what does he intend to do with the one term?”

Obi has consistently vowed to serve just a single four-year term if elected, a commitment he initially expressed during a widely attended X Space session in June. More recently, he proposed adopting a single five-year presidential term, akin to the system in South Korea, where re-election is prohibited.

“If I have the opportunity, we should stop having a second tenure for presidents. It should be five years. That is what is in South Korea, so people come in knowing they have a job to do,” Obi said.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli