Dele Farotimi, a human rights activist and lawyer, has expressed his support for presidential candidate Peter Obi’s proposal of implementing a single-term presidency. He contends that Nigeria’s previous leaders have squandered extended time in office without achieving significant progress.
“Olusegun Obasanjo was in power for eight years; what did he accomplish during that time? Muhammadu Buhari also had an eight-year tenure, and how did he use it? He left Nigeria worse off. President Bola Tinubu has been in office for two years, but his actions are setting us back half a century.”
“It’s not necessarily about the amount of time a person spends; it’s more about how they use the time available to them,” Farotimi stated on Monday’s episode of Channels Television’s breakfast program, Sunrise Daily.
A photograph featuring former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo
Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s president from May 1999 to May 2007. The late Buhari held office between May 2015 and May 2023, at which point he passed the baton to former Lagos governor Tinubu.
Farotimi, recognized for his vocal support of justice and systemic reforms, emphasized that creating a lasting impact doesn’t necessitate holding office for an extended period.
I initially heard about the one-term presidency concept from Peter Obi during the election cycle. I’m not as concerned with how long he plans to serve; what intrigues me more is his agenda for that time period.
The lawyer stated, “Should I decide to run for the presidency of Nigeria, two years would be sufficient to accomplish everything necessary. Lasting change doesn’t require a lengthy term; instead, the focus should be on what one plans to achieve within that single term.”
Obi repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to serving just one four-year term if elected president, a promise he initially made during a well-attended X Space session in June.
The declaration has elicited mixed reactions, with some people questioning his sincerity.
Recently, Obi proposed that Nigeria implement a single five-year presidential term without the possibility of re-election, similar to the system in South Korea.
“If given the opportunity, I would advocate for ending presidential second terms. Instead, there should be a single five-year term, similar to the system in South Korea. This ensures that leaders come into office focused on accomplishing their goals,” said Obi.
