Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, has expressed willingness to serve a single term in office, stating that integrity and national interest outweigh personal ambition.
Obi made this known during an XSpace discussion titled #PeterObiOnParallelFacts on Sunday, June 29, which drew over 10,000 live listeners and nearly 3,000 comments.
The conversation covered a range of national issues, including coalition politics, governance, and the president’s foreign trips.
“If the agreement is one term, I’ll leave on May 28, 2031 — not even May 29,” Obi said in response to a question from a participant. “I’m not desperate to be president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
The former Anambra State governor highlighted his history of respecting political zoning arrangements, recalling how he upheld a zoning deal during his time in office, even when it came at a personal political cost.
Reacting to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to St. Lucia, Obi criticized the trip as ill-timed and lacking priority.
“St. Lucia has a population of 180,000 — less than Ajegunle in Lagos. You can’t build strong international relations when your domestic house is on fire,” he said.
“We’re losing lives in Niger, Benue, Zamfara… and we’re gallivanting. Leaders must stay and lead from the front.”
Obi expressed concern over the president’s frequent foreign travels, noting that President Tinubu has reportedly spent over 59 days abroad this year, while the country continues to grapple with serious security and economic crises.
On the speculation of a possible 2027 alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi was clear: “If the coalition is about sharing tickets and power for its sake, count me out. I’m not interested. I want a coalition that stops the killings in Borno, puts food on people’s tables, and gets our industries working.”
He dismissed reports that his supporters are against a merger, stressing that the focus remains on rebuilding Nigeria rather than political permutations.
“It’s not about rejection. We’ve never even discussed tickets. It’s about Nigeria first,” he clarified.
Drawing from his leadership experience, Obi emphasized the importance of empathy and presence in times of national tragedy.
“I remember attending funerals of unknown people, visiting places of sorrow. Leadership is not about flying jets. It’s about compassion,” he said.
“If 17 soldiers die in Niger and the president is commissioning parties in Lagos, we’ve lost our humanity.”
In conclusion, Obi reiterated his vision for a purposeful and accountable leadership.
“I don’t want to be president to decorate my CV. I want to show that leadership can be different — and effective,” he stated.
