Political economist Pat Utomi has urged Nigeria to adopt a single-term presidency, arguing that two-term administrations often waste time and resources while leaving the country worse off.
Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay Television posted on YouTube on Sunday, August 24, Utomi reacted to Peter Obi’s recent declaration that he would only serve one term if elected president in 2027.
He said Obi’s statement should not come as a surprise, noting that the former Anambra governor has consistently supported the idea of a rotational one-term presidency.
“It shows how little attention people pay to details of matters,” Utomi remarked.
“I was not surprised at all to hear Peter Obi say that, because for years before the last election, Obi’s mantra was that one of the first things he would do if elected in 2023 was to ensure a one-term rotational presidency.
“That was his mantra in 2002 and 2001. He talked about this. That if he was elected, he would move quickly to one five-year term rotating across geopolitical zones.
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“So why would anybody now begin to say they doubt it? He said it long before this scenario of now came up. People are just mischief makers.”
Utomi maintained that two-term presidencies encourage complacency and non-performance.
“By the way, I don’t know why this obsession with two terms. ICAN has a one-term system, it rotates, and everybody seems to be happy,” he said.
“Why is there this obsession with spending eight years doing nothing? Most of them do nothing — just destroy a country in eight years.
“I personally would actually vote for a mandatory one-term. It’s not my idea, it’s Peter’s idea, and I would support it. Not because it’s his idea, but because it makes sense given this obsession with two terms.
“Non-performing people waste the lives of others for eight years. I think after four or five years, you should move on and let new thinking try their bit.”