I’ll honour single-term deal if coalition demands it – Peter Obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has openly declared his willingness to honour any coalition agreement that mandates him to serve a single term and hand over power to the North in 2031, saying his priority is character and integrity over the quest for power.

Speaking during an XSpace session titled #PeterObiOnParallelFacts, which attracted over 10,000 live listeners, Obi addressed several national concerns, from coalition politics to President Bola Tinubu’s foreign travels.

Responding to a participant, Obi stated, “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.”

He emphasised the importance of respecting zoning and political agreements as a sign of maturity and reminded listeners of how he upheld zoning principles during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, despite personal costs.

On President Tinubu’s recent trip to St. Lucia, Obi criticised the move as insensitive, pointing out that while Nigeria battles insecurity and economic hardship, the president has spent over 59 days abroad this year.

He said, “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.”

Obi also addressed speculations about a possible 2027 joint ticket with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, firmly denying any discussions.

He maintained that any coalition should be about rescuing Nigeria from its current woes, not about sharing positions.

“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,” Obi added.

He recalled his leadership style as a governor, often personally visiting tragic scenes and mourning with victims’ families, stating, “Leadership is not about flying jets. It’s about compassion.”

Peter Obi concluded by urging for leadership anchored on humility, service, and responsibility, stressing, “I don’t want to be president to decorate my CV. I want to show that leadership can be different, and effective.”