Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has said that a single four-year term is sufficient for any serious and sincere leader to make meaningful impact in Nigeria.
Obi made this known in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Spokesman of Peter Obi Media Reports, Ibrahim Umar, adding that a one-term presidency in 2027 would respect the zoning arrangement and help stabilise the country’s political landscape.
“One term is enough to establish that good governance is possible, and if they can impact negatively on us for just two years, why won’t someone achieve a lot in four years?
It’s also to respect the gentleman’s agreement of zoning, which has been a stabilising factor, even though it’s not in our constitution.
I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance.
Two years can change it in a good direction. People want to get up and see a president who cares and shows compassion,” he said.
Reaffirming his intention to contest the presidency in 2027, Obi said he remains qualified to hold the office.
“I’m going to contest for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it,” he said.
Addressing speculation about a possible running mate role to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the next election, Obi dismissed the idea.
“This is not in play; nobody has ever discussed that.
People assume so many things. Nobody has ever discussed with me whether I am going to be A, B or C,” he stated.
Obi also denied reports suggesting he had left the Labour Party following his open support for a coalition that had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Commenting on the participation of individuals with past administration experience in the coalition, Obi argued that their involvement would be an asset, not a liability.
“Their experience is critical. I can tell you one of the major companies in the world hired two people who had worked in failed companies because they can tell you why they failed.
You need the experience of those who have failed and those who have succeeded in moving on, and I need everyone.
It is a critical experience because they know what can fail a system and they know what was wrong with the system,” he said.
(NAN)