Reuben Abati Blasts Peter Obi Over One-Term Presidency Promise, Labels It “Desperation”

Reuben Abati has blasted Peter Obi over one-term presidency promise and labelled it “desperation”.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that popular media personality and former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, has sharply criticised Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president of Nigeria.

Speaking on Arise Television in a viral video on Monday, Abati described Obi’s one-term presidency promise as a “sign of desperation,” urging Nigerians not to fall for such political gimmicks.

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Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and flagbearer of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, recently declared that he would serve just a single term if elected president, a statement that has stirred a nationwide debate and drawn mixed reactions from political commentators and citizens alike.

Among those who have also condemned the remark is the incumbent Anambra State governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, who questioned the sincerity and viability of Obi’s pledge.

However, Obi has doubled down on the statement, maintaining that his promise is rooted in his commitment to deliver rapid reforms and accountability within a single term.

Reacting to Obi’s insistence, Abati dismissed the one-term pitch, comparing it to what he described as “gimmicks” such as the politician’s habit of serving food or acting as a server at public events.

“What I am saying is that any politician that comes to you and says, ‘I am going to do only one term,’ that is a sign of desperation. It will not work,” Abati stated.

He continued, “Just like the gambit about serving food and carrying plates or doing boy-boy at parties, that should be left to professional event organisers. It is also a sign of desperation; it will not work.”

Abati emphasized that for Nigeria to make meaningful progress, voters must prioritise competence over ethnic, religious, or regional sentiments.

“If Nigerians are politically educated to the point where they can vote for a competent person regardless of where he comes from or his religion, that’s when the country will begin to move forward,” he said.

He concluded by reiterating that “all this ‘I will do one term, I will serve you food,’ that’s not going to work,” urging the electorate to be more discerning and reject superficial appeals.