By Sam Amadi
I am in support of Peter Obi’s one-term commitment. And he means it.
Political discourse in Nigeria could be very silly. Many people are attacking Peter Obi for saying he will do only one term. They think it is either untruthful or foolish. But they are wrong.
First, you are only elected for a 4year single term. In a real democracy, there is no guarantee you would be reelected. So, you have just 4 years to deliver your electoral process. 4 yrs should be enough to deliver what you promised the nation. That is what they voted.
Some say “oh you cannot change Nigeria in 4 yrs”. By the same breath, you cannot change Nigeria in 8 yrs. So you should remain beyond 8 yrs? Did OBJ change Nigeria in 8yrs? Did Buhari change Nigeria in 8yrs. Actually, Buhari further endangered Nigeria in 8 yrs. GEJ accomplished more in one term than Buhari in 8yrs.
Again, some say “Peter is cheating Igbos who deserve 8yrs”. Well, in normal times, yes we need 8 yrs. But what did 8yrs buy for katsina and northwest? What exactly? Longevity is not the point. Intensity is.
I am part of Igbo leadership. Our people want the presidency more for its psychological value. We are equal citizens. One terms achieves that. The rest is for Nigeria. Real development in the southeast rests on governors who can deliver transformation. That is why I will run for governor late in 2027.
And if Obi’s plan to hand over to Kwankwanso works as sketched, Nigeria will be on tract to a sustained 8 or 16 yrs of economic growth and social stabilization. And we would achieve in a democracy what many Asian countries achieved in a dictatorship.
Never forget that politics is the art of the possible, not the science of the possible. It is POssible.
