Rev. Fr. John Oluoma has described Peter Obi’s renewed commitment to serve only one term if elected president in 2027 as a “golden opportunity” for Nigeria, calling it a strategic move that could reshape the country’s political landscape.
In a statement shared on Sunday, Oluoma acknowledged the skepticism surrounding Obi’s vow, particularly from within the Igbo community, but emphasized that such divergence of opinion reflects a healthy democratic culture. He cautioned, however, against allowing political discourse to devolve into “banal vitriolics.”
“The reaffirmation of Obi’s one-term promise is reassuring and adds credibility to his campaign,” Oluoma said. “This could be his most potent political masterstroke yet—a winning strategy for 2027, and I back it with my full chest.”
He argued that a single-term presidency under Obi would be beneficial across multiple dimensions:
- It would address the long-standing Igbo presidency drought.
- It would maintain power in the South, with the South West and South South likely to support the move.
- Obi would not reverse President Tinubu’s key economic reforms – including fuel subsidy removal, naira floating, tax restructuring, and student loans – but rather build on them.
Oluoma warned that any candidate campaigning to undo Tinubu’s reforms would be “patronizing the feelings of ignorant voters” and easily discredited in serious interviews.
He also predicted that Obi’s administration would prioritize:
- Reducing the cost of governance
- Tackling systemic corruption
- Decentralizing bureaucratic institutions
- Ensuring fair and inclusive political appointments
“Obi is most likely going to be the first Nigerian President to escape the ‘crime’ of tribalism and nepotism,” Oluoma stated. “The circumstances under which he will assume office will curb such tendencies.”
He urged all regions – especially the North, South South, and South East – to support Obi’s one-term presidency, noting that resistance from the South West would be understandable but not detrimental.
“This is Nigeria’s chance to use one stone to kill many birds,” Oluoma concluded. “Let’s make it happen.”
