‘Obasanjo, Buhari wasted eight years’ – Farotimi backs Obi’s one-term presidency plan

Farotimi

Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has backed former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s call for a single-term presidency, noting that past Nigerian leaders have squandered longer tenures without delivering meaningful progress.Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Farotimi said,”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.

“So it’s not really about how much time the person spends; it’s a function of what they do with the time that they have.”

Farotimi also emphasised that achieving lasting impact does not depend on a prolonged stay in office.

Farotimi, known for his outspoken advocacy for justice and systemic reforms, stressed that long-term impact does not require a long stay in office.

“I first heard this one-term presidency idea from Peter Obi during the 2023 election cycle. We need to be interrogating issues beyond interrogating beyond declaration. 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 but an ambition. If it’s a vision, I will need my children’s children to complete the task.

“So, if a man says, ‘I’m going to take one term, and I’m leaving,’ I am more interested in asking the question, ‘What are your plans? What will you do with the one term?

“If I ever run for the presidency of Nigeria, I wouldn’t require more than two years to do everything I need to do. You don’t need a long term to achieve lasting change, but the question should be: what does he intend to do with the one term?” the lawyer said.

Recall that Obi had, over time, reiterated his vow to serve only a single four-year term if elected president in 2027, a declaration that has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning his sincerity.