Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, has criticised Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, over his renewed pledge to serve only one term if elected in 2027, accusing him of hypocrisy and dishonesty.
In a response to Obi’s Sunday statement posted on X, Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesperson, said the former Anambra governor’s vow lacked credibility, citing his political history.
“Peter Obi, the liar, is exposed again,” Onanuga said. “You’re neither a Mandela nor a Lincoln or a Kennedy. You sound as if you have never held an elected office before. You sought re-election as Anambra Governor in 2010 and narrowly won courtesy of a divided opposition. Why didn’t you walk away after only one term in office?”
Onanuga dismissed Obi’s claims of integrity and effective leadership, arguing that his record as a two-term governor of Anambra State did not reflect the transformational leadership he now promises.
“Meanwhile after serving two terms, did Anambra look like a state that has been transformed? If you couldn’t transform a small Anambra after 8 years, is there a guarantee that you’ll do anything significant under 4 years as President of a complex and complicated Nigeria?” he asked.
He also took aim at Obi’s assertion that he always kept his word, saying, “You talk about keeping your promises or your vow being your bond, but you and I know that’s not true. You have broken previous promises and usually lie with reckless abandon, sometimes needlessly.”
Onanuga recalled Obi’s defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), despite earlier assurances that he would remain in the party.
Read also: One term is enough for me, just like Lincoln and JFK – Peter Obi
“You said you won’t leave APGA but you left (the reason for your exit is immaterial because if we’re to make allowance for excuses, you’ll definitely have an excuse to break your one-term vow),” he said. “You talk about trust, but how do you expect people to trust someone who can’t keep a simple promise not to leave a political party?”
Obi defends four-year promise
Obi had earlier on Sunday reiterated his long-held commitment to serve only one four-year term if elected president, describing the vow as “sacrosanct” and rooted in a philosophy of purposeful leadership rather than the pursuit of power.
“I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct,” he wrote.
Obi cited historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela to argue that legacy and impact are not measured by time in office but by principled service.
“Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service, however brief, that defines true statesmanship,” he said.
Responding to public scepticism and mockery of his vow, Obi said, “One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed. Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation.
“I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards, where political promises are made to be broken. But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth.”
He insisted his record in Anambra State proves his trustworthiness, adding that 48 months is enough to deliver real change. “If making such a promise qualifies me for psychiatric evaluation, then we may as well question the mental fitness of those who framed our Constitution,” he said.
Obi vowed to focus his presidency on improving governance, education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and national productivity.
“These are not utopian dreams. They are realistic, actionable goals that are achievable within four years,” he said.
