By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Democratic Front (TDF) has described the proposal by former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for a single-term presidency to the opposition coalition as a display of sheer desperation to grab power at all costs.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the pro-democracy media group argued that it was a case of deceitful politics.
”We believe that Mr. Obi was just being clever by half, in a bid to evade the intricacies of Nigeria’s rotational presidency, as it affects Northern Nigeria in 2031, by putting forward such a hard-sell proposal with disregard to the realities of current economic challenges, both within and outside the country.
”TDF considers it an exhibition of crass ignorance and intellectual underestimation of Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political challenges, for a former governor to assume that there is a magic wand that could solve the enormous problems confronting the nation in four years.
”We wonder why he couldn’t achieve that feat in a smaller Anambra State, with enormous resources, as a two-term governor.
”This psychological turn of events in Peter Obi’s campaign strategy confirms what Governor Charles Soludo said about a psychiatric evaluation for anyone making such a claim because no serious-minded, clear-headed presidential aspirant will present such a ridiculous proposal as a bait for election, given the enormous challenges of the office.
”Like many people have said, more disturbing was his references to the tenure of leaders like Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy and late Nelson Mandela, without proper context or appreciating that Nigeria of today does not, in any way, have any semblance of deep political or economic challenges those countries, had the time they all served as Presidents.
”This further underlines Obi’s pedestrian knowledge and perception of the Nigerian situation.
”We therefore view his proposal to serve for one term, if elected President, as unrealistic, deceptive, esoteric, and politically Machiavellian.
”It simply reveals that he is selfishly ambitious to a fault, and overly driven by an uncontrollable desire for power,” the statement read.
The group urged Nigerians to distance themselves from what it described as Obi’s political antics.
