Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has weighed in on the one-term presidency proposal made by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioning its substance and practicality.
Farotimi noted that this was not the first time Obi had floated the idea, recalling that the former Anambra State governor also made the same pledge during the 2023 election campaign.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Sunday night, Farotimi stressed that the real issue was not the duration of a president’s stay in office but what could be achieved within that time.
“A man says he’s going to spend one term. One term to do what? 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 truly a vision, it will take generations to complete. So, if a man says, ‘I’m going to run for one term,’ I am more interested in asking questions about his plans,” he said.
Farotimi argued that a well-prepared leader with clear strategies does not necessarily need two terms to deliver meaningful change. He compared Obi’s proposal to past administrations, noting that several presidents who spent eight years in power had little to show for it.
“Obasanjo had eight years—what did he do with them? Buhari had eight years—he ruined Nigeria. Tinubu has had two years, and he’s taken us back by 50 years. So, it’s not about how long you spend, but what you do with the time available,” Farotimi added.
Obi had recently reiterated his plan to serve only one four-year term if elected president in 2027, arguing that power should then rotate back to the North in line with the country’s unwritten zoning arrangement.
His comments have since stirred mixed reactions, with some describing him as pragmatic while others accuse him of being overly ambitious.
