ACF Rejects Peter Obi’s One-Term Pledge, Describes Tinubu’s Performance as ‘Shambolic’
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has rejected the one-term presidency pledge made by the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, describing the promise as unnecessary, undemocratic and contrary to constitutional principles.
The northern socio-political organisation also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, rating its performance after three years in office as “shambolic.”
Obi had recently vowed to serve only one four-year term if elected president in 2027, maintaining that four years is enough for a sincere leader to transform the country. During an interview on national television, the former Anambra State governor stated that he would hand over power to the North after his tenure, “even with a gun to my head.”
Reacting in an exclusive interview, ACF National Secretary, Tukur Baba, argued that such a commitment was unnecessary and could undermine democratic principles.
According to him, “such a promise is totally unnecessary, even as a campaign material, it is still very unnecessary.”
He said the rotation of power between regions is not backed by the Constitution, stressing that it remains a matter for political parties.
“Firstly, such a power shift is not a constitutional provision. It is a matter for political parties to decide. Another leading presidential candidate had mentioned that and that is not correct,” he said.
Baba further argued that institutionalising regional power rotation could deepen divisions across the country.
“Secondly, it is very undemocratic, we cannot be practicing democracy and are putting all kinds of road blocks. That is not democracy.
“Thirdly, when you are rotating power from one geo-political zone to another, tomorrow, it may become a religious affair, they will come out and say it is time for so so religion.
“We have at least four hundred ethnic groups in this country and three major religious groups. The more we stick to the power shift, the more we embrace division among us.”
Questioning Obi’s commitment, Baba said it would be unfair for Nigerians to be denied the opportunity to re-elect a performing leader simply because of a campaign promise.
“Why will Peter Obi make such a promise? Supposing he becomes the president of Nigeria and performs excellently well in his first tenure, would it be fair for Nigerians, North or South, men or women to say Obi will not go again because he made promises even though he is good?
“By him promising one term means he is likely not going to do his best. He is being unfair to the electorates. All we need in this country is just good governance.”
He added that Nigerians were more concerned with accountability, security, education, healthcare and anti-corruption efforts than regional power arrangements.
“We want accountability, fair representation and good welfare of the citizens. Welfare includes security, school, health and anti-corruption drives.
“If Peter Obi comes to power and after two years we begin to see results, it will be unfair for him to say he only wants four years.
“Imagine if in two years Obi is able to tame banditry, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups across the country, then he said he wants to leave after four years, that will be unfair to those who elected him.”
Baba went further to describe Obi’s pledge as irresponsible.
“If I’m to sit down with Peter Obi, I will tell him, ‘you promised one term and then return power to another region, that is being irresponsible’.
“Until we abolish tribalism and region-based politics, we may not go far as a country. We are marching backwards in reverse order.”
The ACF official, however, clarified that the organisation has no preferred presidential candidate and does not openly endorse political parties.
“We have no tradition of coming out to support or oppose any candidate or political parties in the country openly.
“Rather, our job is to analyze and at the end of the day, allow the electorates to decide. Unlike other organizations in the country, we have over three hundred tribes in the North so we cannot afford to say that the North has one preferred candidate or party.
“However, the North has just one interest and the interest is different from the interest of any other citizens of the country and that is good governance, security and good economy.”
On the performance of the Tinubu administration, Baba expressed disappointment, accusing the government of failing to address insecurity and worsening economic hardship.
He said killings, kidnappings and bandit activities had continued to spread across the country despite efforts to restructure the security architecture.
“If President Tinubu is doing well, the impact would have been felt but the issue has continued to expand until the Americans came recently.
“Bello Turji is still in the North East, bragging on social media. Tinubu reshuffled security architecture yet no results.
“Has he ever ordered any of the security chiefs ‘bring me the head of so so bandit or terrorist dead or alive?’”
Baba also criticised the government’s economic policies, rising taxes and infrastructure projects.
“Tinubu has isolated the Aso Villa from the national grid but you and I are paying for power that we did not see.
“Prices of things are going up yet we have taxes everywhere. They keep bragging of low taxes for lower income earners but even razor blade that you buy, there is VAT in it.
“The Lagos-Calabar highway, we don’t know what is happening there, the so-called Lagos-Sokoto road, how much of it has been done? Where is the progress? Tinubu and his group, who asked for democracy are the ones sabotaging the principles of democracy today.”
He further lamented the state of the economy and rising debt profile.
“The middle class has been totally wiped out. I am terribly disappointed in President Tinubu. This regime has taken more loans than all the previous governments put together and you and I are going to pay for it.
“So, generally, I will say the performance has been shambolic.
“Has their policies impacted citizens, oh, yes, but negatively.”
