A former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, has expressed skepticism about former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s proposal to serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
Sani, who was a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Tuesday, said none of those planning to run for president in 2027 including Obi is a saint.
Sani is of the opinion that northerners would find it difficult to trust Obi’s promise, given the dynamics of power and the tendency for politicians to seek to extend their stay in office.
During an X Space on Sunday with his followers, Obi, a former Anambra State governor, had reportedly said he would comply with an agreement to be in office for four years if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
However, the ex-IPAC chair said the dynamics of power become different when politicians get into office.
Sani emphasised the principle of rotation of power, suggesting that after eight years of southern leadership, the presidency should return to the northern region.
Sani questioned the feasibility of Obi’s one-term promise, citing the corrupting influence of power and the challenges of succession.
“Yes, Mr Peter Obi can agree to say: ‘I am going to do one term’ but the northerners will tell you that after Bola Tinubu’s term, if he gets the (second) election, it should come to the north.
“But we are human beings. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Peter Obi is not a saint; he is not somebody who is from another planet.
”We have seen successive governments trying to see how they can turn the constitution around and give themselves a third term and things like that.
“This is why it would be difficult for a lot of people to believe Mr Peter Obi that after one term, he would leave.
”And then how would he even succeed if you look at the sentimental aspect of it, the state capture, and power of incumbency, ” he said.
Sani noted that politicians are human beings prone to the temptations of power, and Obi is no exception.
The north is likely to push for the presidency after President Bola Tinubu’s term, given the region’s historical significance and demographic weight.
Sani also believed that northerners would find it hard to trust Obi’s promise, given the complexities of Nigerian politics and the power of incumbency.
Sani highlighted the challenges of succession and the power of incumbency, which could make it difficult for politicians to relinquish power voluntarily.
He also noted the sentimental aspect of power and the potential for state capture, which can further complicate the issue.
