Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has declared that he would honor any coalition agreement that requires him to serve only a single term and hand over to the North in 2031, emphasizing that character and integrity are more important to him than power.
Speaking during a highly attended X Space session, Obi addressed a range of national issues, from coalition politics to the president’s foreign travels.
When asked about a potential single-term agreement, Obi responded, “If the agreement is one term, I will leave on May 28, 2031 — not even May 29. I am not desperate to be president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work.”
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He insisted that respecting zoning and coalition terms demonstrates political maturity, citing his own adherence to zoning principles in Anambra State.
Obi was also critical of President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to St. Lucia, calling it “out of touch” and a “misplacement of priorities.” He argued, “You can’t build strong international relations when your domestic house is on fire,” pointing out that St. Lucia has a smaller population than Ajegunle in Lagos.
He highlighted Nigeria’s severe challenges, including mass killings and economic hardship, while the president has spent over 59 days abroad this year. “We’re losing lives in Niger, Benue, Zamfara… and we’re gallivanting. You can’t travel around the world when people are being buried at home. Leaders must stay and lead from the front,” he declared.
Regarding a potential joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2027, Obi denied any negotiations on candidacy, stressing that the coalition’s true goal is to fix Nigeria, not just share power.
“If the coalition is about sharing tickets and power for its sake, count me out. I’m not interested. I want a coalition that stops the killings in Borno, puts food on people’s tables, and gets our industries working,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that his supporters oppose a merger, clarifying, “It’s not about rejection. We’ve never even discussed tickets. It’s about Nigeria first.”
Drawing on his experience as Governor of Anambra State, Obi emphasized that leaders must feel the pain of the people and be present during tragedies. “Leadership is not about flying jets. It’s about compassion,”he said, adding, “If 17 soldiers die in Niger and the president is commissioning parties in Lagos, we’ve lost our humanity.”
He concluded by advocating for a leadership style based on humility, service, and responsibility, stating, “I don’t want to be president to decorate my CV. I want to show that leadership can be different — and effective.”
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