Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has criticized former presidential candidate Peter Obi over his recent statement about serving only one term if elected president.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Onanuga, in a tweet, questioned the credibility of Obi’s promise, saying Nigerians should not trust the former Anambra State governor’s political commitments based on his past actions.
The presidential aide recalled Obi’s time in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), where he reportedly pledged loyalty to the party and vowed never to leave it after becoming governor under its platform.
According to Onanuga, Obi also assured the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of his commitment to remain in APGA. However, he said Obi later dumped the party and moved to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Onanuga argued that Obi’s movement from one political platform to another over the years raises questions about whether his latest promise can be trusted.
The presidential spokesperson described Obi as a politician whose political alliances frequently change, adding that his past decisions have weakened confidence in his public declarations.
He wrote: “If you believe Peter Obi’s promise to serve only one term as president, you’ll believe anything. Consider his record: while in APGA, he famously placed himself under a self-curse, vowing never to leave the party that made him governor. He gave his word to the Ikemba, even on his deathbed, swearing loyalty and fidelity to APGA.
“Yet, Peter Obi’s pledges have always been short-lived. He ultimately abandoned APGA for the PDP, and since then, he has drifted from one political platform to another, a political rolling stone. By his own actions, Peter Obi has shown that his word cannot be trusted. His promises are as fleeting as his political allegiances.”
The criticism comes shortly after Obi stated, during an interview, that he would be willing to spend only one term in office if elected president.
Obi had explained that his focus would be on stabilizing the country and addressing urgent national challenges within four years.