I shall Honor Single-term Agreement if Coalition Necessitates it, Declares Obi
Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, pledges to adhere to any coalition accord that obligates him to serve a solitary term and subsequently transfer leadership to the North in 2031, asserting that character and integrity outweigh the pursuit of power.
During a widely attended XSpace session titled #PeterObiOnParallelFacts, which attracted over 10,000 live participants and nearly 3,000 audience comments, Obi addressed pivotal national matters, spanning coalition dynamics to the president’s foreign escapades.
“If the agreement stipulates one term, I’ll relinquish office on May 28, 2031—not even May 29. My ambition is not to become president; my fervor lies in witnessing Nigeria’s progress,” Obi remarked, responding to an inquiry from a user named Balactic.
He emphasized that honoring zoning and respecting coalition terms exemplify political maturity. He recounted his adherence to zoning principles in Anambra State, even at considerable personal cost.
Obi was forthright in his critique of President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to St. Lucia, denouncing it as “detached” and a “misallocation of priorities.”
“You cannot forge robust international relations when your domestic affairs are in disarray,” he asserted, underscoring that St. Lucia—a Caribbean nation with merely 180,000 inhabitants—boasts a smaller population than Ajegunle in Lagos.
He highlighted Nigeria’s struggles with rampant violence, economic distress, and security lapses, yet the president has spent over 59 days abroad this year.
“We’re losing lives in Niger, Benue, Zamfara… and we’re meandering. One cannot traverse the globe while burials are taking place at home. Leaders must remain and lead from the forefront,” he proclaimed.
Addressing speculations about a potential joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2027, Obi categorically refuted any negotiations on candidacy and underscored the coalition’s genuine objective: rectifying Nigeria.
“If the coalition revolves around divvying up tickets and power for its own sake, exclude me. I’m uninterested. I seek a coalition that halts the killings in Borno, ensures nourishment for the populace, and revitalizes our industries,” Obi articulated.
He also repudiated the notion that his supporters were resistant to the merger.
“It’s not about opposition. We’ve never even broached the subject of tickets. It revolves around prioritizing Nigeria,” he elucidated.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi recounted personally visiting scenes of calamity—including funerals for unidentified victims—and insisted that leaders must empathize with the people’s suffering.
“Leadership transcends piloting jets. It encompasses compassion,” he stated. “If 17 soldiers perish in Niger and the president is inaugurating festivities in Lagos, we’ve forsaken our humanity.”
He concluded by advocating for a leadership style grounded in humility, service, and accountability:
“I don’t aspire to the presidency to embellish my résumé. I aspire to demonstrate that leadership can be transformative—and efficacious.”
