Nasir El-Rufai rejects one-term presidency pledges by Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, saying Nigerians don’t believe such promises and four years isn’t enough to enact reforms
Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has advised Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi to stop making pledges to serve only one term as president, stating that Nigerians no longer believe such promises.
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El-Rufai spoke on Sunday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, addressing recent statements by the two former governors who have expressed willingness to serve just one term if elected president.
Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra governor, has repeatedly said a four-year presidency would be enough to “reset” Nigeria.
Similarly, Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State governor and now a member of the African Democratic Congress, vowed to serve only one term to encourage political rotation and stability.
El-Rufai dismissed these pledges as unrealistic, emphasizing that both men, having governed their states, should know meaningful reforms require more time.
“Four years is not enough,” he said. “I have been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Obi know how long it takes to make meaningful change in government.”
He added that politicians who commit to serving just one term often change their minds after assuming office.
“I want to appeal to everyone to stop making these commitments of ‘I will do four years’ or ‘I will do eight years’, because nobody believes you,” El-Rufai stated.
El-Rufai also explained his support for the power shift to the South during the 2023 election.
He said this decision was part of an agreement among All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders at the party’s formation and involved mobilizing northern governors to back the arrangement, regardless of the opposition’s plans.
Also read: My One-Term, Four-Year Vow Is Sacrosanct- Peter Obi
He described zoning as a political strategy parties use to improve their chances at winning elections.
