“Peter Obi Is Talking Out of Ignorance” — Farouq Aliyu Dismisses One-Term Promise as Political Rhetoric

Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouq Aliyu, has strongly criticised Peter Obi’s recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, calling it “mere rhetoric” and a reflection of ignorance about the complexities of governing Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on *Prime Time*, a programme aired on Arise Television on Wednesday, Aliyu argued that Obi’s promise lacks depth and fails to appreciate the difference between state and national leadership.

“Obi is talking out of ignorance. He doesn’t know. States are different from Nigeria. When you govern a small state, the horizon of a state governor is not as wide as the horizon of a president,” Aliyu stated.

Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, recently reiterated his willingness to serve a single term if elected in 2027, claiming he would use the opportunity to lay the foundation for a “new Nigeria.”

However, Aliyu dismissed the vow as a political gimmick aimed at swaying voters without fully understanding the demands of national governance.

“Sometimes when you’re out of office, or when you’re not in that position, you don’t really know what it takes. To me, it’s just rhetoric, and he’s trying to convince people,” he said.

In a broader assessment of the opposition landscape, Aliyu downplayed the threat posed by recent political alliances, particularly those involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC). While acknowledging the credibility of some opposition leaders, he maintained that their coalition lacks the unity and structure needed to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

“We respect them; we admire them as Nigerian leaders, but honestly, they don’t threaten us. All of them are after us, so we need to spread our tentacles to make sure we pour sand inside their gàárì,” Aliyu said, referencing a local idiom implying strategic disruption.

He also questioned the viability of the coalition, describing it as a gathering of presidential hopefuls, each driven by personal ambition.

“Virtually all leaders of that group want to be president; unfortunately for them, only one person can be president,” he added.