Human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has voiced support for presidential candidate Peter Obi’s call for a single-term presidency, asserting that Nigeria’s past leaders have failed to deliver meaningful progress despite long tenures.
“Obasanjo had eight years — what did he achieve? Buhari had eight years — what did he do? They ruined Nigeria. And now, President Tinubu, with just two years, is taking us backward by 50 years,” Farotimi said on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He added, “It’s not about the length of time spent in office, but what is accomplished during that time.”
Obasanjo governed from May 1999 to May 2007, while Buhari served from May 2015 to May 2023 before handing over to current President Bola Tinubu.
Farotimi, renowned for his advocacy on justice and systemic reforms, emphasized that effective leadership does not depend on a long term.
“I first heard the one-term presidency idea from Peter Obi during the election cycle. If I were to run for president, I wouldn’t need more than two years to accomplish my goals. The key question is: what does one plan to achieve within that single term?”
Peter Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one four-year term if elected, a promise he initially made during a popular X Space session in June. More recently, he proposed a five-year single term without re-election, similar to South Korea’s presidential model.
“If given the chance, we should end second terms for presidents. It should be five years, like in South Korea, so leaders come in focused on delivering results,” Obi said.
