Human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has voiced strong support for presidential hopeful Peter Obi’s proposal to limit Nigeria’s presidency to a single term, arguing that longer tenures have not guaranteed meaningful progress.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Farotimi criticised former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as current President Bola Tinubu.
“Obasanjo had eight years; what did he do with it? Buhari had eight years; what did he do with it? He ruined Nigeria. Tinubu has had two years, and he is taking us back 50 years,” Farotimi stated.
Farotimi argued that leadership should be judged by accomplishments, not tenure length. He recalled first hearing Obi’s single-term presidency plan during the last election cycle, noting that he himself would not need more than two years to implement necessary reforms.
“You don’t need a long term to achieve lasting change,” he said.
Peter Obi has maintained his pledge to serve only one term if elected president—a promise he first made in a June X Space session. Recently, he suggested a single five-year presidential term, mirroring South Korea’s system, which bars re-election.
“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 and know that they have a job to do,” Obi said.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions—some doubt Obi’s sincerity, while others believe it could reduce political distractions and encourage more focused governance.
