There are different categories of people who feel threatened by Obi’s single term promise. I will try to identify them but in no particular order. The first are GEJ apologists and former associates, such as Dr. Reuben Abati, who cannot bare to think that someone could take such a sensible decision to ease political tension in the land, which GEJ failed to take in 2015 and by means of which he led himself and the PDP into a terrible fall from power. From the way that Abati was so riled by Peter Obi’s proposal, one can guess that he was one of the associates of GEJ at the time that had so fallen in love with public office as to have advised GEJ not to take the common sense step of contenting himself with the combined six years he had spent in office as Acting President and President.
The second are those who have built their political calculations on the potential eight years term for a new President in 2027 as a disincentive for Nigerians to replace Tinubu with Peter Obi in 2027. This class of people, mainly supporters of Tinubu and the APC and and hopefuls of a Northern upset of in 2027, like Atiku, are scared to death that the major discouragement to Obi presidency for Northerners is being taken away.
Indeed, Obi’s single term promise converts his possible presidency in 2027 to a huge political advantage for the North. In one period of Southern presidency, the North would have favoured both the South East and the South West, thus placing them firmly in place as the decider of who controls power even when the presidency moves to the South. Both the South East and South West would be placed as perennial competitors for the favour of the North. This would be in addition to the North burying the ghost of the civil war on their own terms and by their own grace.
The third category of those who oppose Obi’s single term presidency promise are the perennial naysayers. They are perpetual critics who never lift a finger to set anything right. They have made criticism of public officials a thriving business. They are ever alarmed at the prospect of an Obi presidency that would remove the sources of their criticism, and hence, their relevance and source of income and public do-gooder persona. They know that Obi’s promise is a game changer. They mask their selfish apprehension and envy of Obi as cynicism.
However, if there is anything to be doubted, it is the possibility and practicality of Obi reneging on his promise to do a single term. We have GEJ to look back at. The angst against GEJ, which mobilized most Nigerians – not only the North – against him was that he at first pleaded to be allowed to complete the term of Yar’Adua, that had unfortunately passed on, and he was obliged. Later, he asked to do a single substantive term. He was obliged still. Then he decided to go for a second term. Nigerians would have none of it. He orchestrated the first ever defeat of an incumbent.
Certain things make Obi’s promise of a single term unique, leaving absolutely no room for doubt. The others, like GEJ, Buhari and Atiku, who had made similar promises in the past, whispered them at party and stakeholder caucuses. They never came out boldly to the people on national television to declare it. They were only reported to have said it. They were never recorded on national television making the promise. When they were subsequently reminded of the promise, their retort was to ask for proof, and of course, none of those who heard them could speak up, and even when they dared to do so, they were not believed.
Obi on the other hand, has committed himself in writing to the ADC so called coalition party and several times on national tv and forever on record on social media. It would be impossible for him to deny the promise. He could never try to back away from it. The backlash would make what happened to GEJ seem like child play.
Contrary to the contrived and mischievous cynicism over Obi’s promise of a single term, what reasonable analysis should question is the possibility of his ever attempting to renege on it, if given the presidency in 2027, not the probability of his keeping it. The truth is that the possibility of his backing away from it is near zero. It would be impossible for Obi to go back on the promise and proceed to seek a second term, with all Nigerians having him on record on it. Only a devious scoundrel could ever attempt that, and even then, he would be certain to fail. Obi is never a devious or rascally character. Everyone knows that.
By Chuks Nwachuku; legal practitioner and leadership and good governance advocate; [email protected]
