Ex-Lawmaker Mbia Dismisses Peter Obi’s One-Term Promise as Empty Gimmick

Former lawmaker and APC chieftain, Cletus Obun Mbia has criticised Peter Obi’s recent pledge to serve only one term if elected president in 2027, describing it as an unconvincing political stunt.

Obi, former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential contender, recently said he would serve just four years if given the mandate, citing Nelson Mandela as a model for time-bound, purposeful leadership.

Reacting during an interview on Trust TV, Mbia dismissed the comparison, arguing that Obi lacks Mandela’s legacy and moral authority. According to him, “Mandela didn’t need to announce a one-term plan. He earned the people’s trust through decades of sacrifice. A lion doesn’t need to roar to be known as a lion. You can’t fold an umbrella and call it a walking stick it doesn’t work that way”.

Mbia also challenged Obi’s widely repeated promise to move Nigeria “from consumption to production,” claiming it lacks any practical basis. “What has he produced? He buys and sells. There’s no record of industrial investment, no factory, no track record in production” he said.

He questioned Obi’s educational achievements as governor, arguing that academic success alone is not a measure of progress. “He brags about WAEC results, but what next? Where are the skilled graduates or innovations from Anambra’s technical institutions?”.

Mbia further accused Obi of weakening local governance, pointing out that he failed to conduct local government elections until the final year of his eight-year tenure.

He concluded that Obi’s one-term vow is more about personal ambition than public service. “Let’s not give him free publicity. When the 2027 campaigns start, we’ll address these issues fully. Peter is not someone to be trusted.”

Obi’s promise has stirred nationwide debate, praised by supporters as a bold leadership stance, but dismissed by critics like Mbia as political theatre.