Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has taken a swipe at ex-governors Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi over their repeated promises to run a single-term presidency if elected in 2027, describing the pledge as empty and unbelievable.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, El-Rufai declared that Nigerians do not take such commitments seriously, stressing that four years is far too short to turn the country around.
Obi, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election, has vowed to spend just one term if given another chance in 2027, insisting that purposeful leadership is about impact, not tenure.
Amaechi, now with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has echoed the same stance, saying a one-term deal would promote political stability and fairness.
But El-Rufai rubbished the idea, warning that governance is no quick fix:
“Now, on the question of people coming out and saying, I will do one term, I don’t think anyone believes that.
I don’t think it is right. You should not constitutionally give up what is yours. And frankly, as someone who has been governor for eight years, and Amaechi and Peter Obi have both been governors, they know the time it takes to make meaningful change in government. Four years is not enough.”
The outspoken former governor further claimed that politicians who make such pledges often change their minds once in power, urging aspirants to quit making what he called false promises.
El-Rufai also revisited the controversial APC power shift of 2023, revealing that he personally rallied northern governors to back the South, in line with a gentlemen’s agreement reached during the party’s formation.
According to him, zoning is simply a political weapon used by parties to boost their electoral fortunes.