Factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has strongly criticized Peter Obi over his recent one-term presidency pledge, saying the former governor of Anambra State should not compare himself to global icons like Nelson Mandela.
Arabambi described the comparison as insulting and misleading to Nigerians.
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the LP, recently reaffirmed his vow to serve only one term of four years if elected president in 2027. To justify this, he cited the leadership examples of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Nelson Mandela — claiming that great leaders don’t need long years to make an impact.
However, Arabambi, speaking on Channels Television’s “Morning Brief” on Tuesday, said Obi’s self-comparison to Mandela is a stretch too far. “It’s an insult for Peter Obi to compare himself to Nelson Mandela. They are just two parallel lines that can never meet,” he said. According to him, Obi has not shown the character or selflessness that defined Mandela’s legacy.
Arabambi further questioned Obi’s commitment to party structure, accusing him of neglecting the Labour Party. “He openly said he’s not here to build the Labour Party but to build Nigeria. That statement alone shows he doesn’t understand the importance of political platforms in leadership,” he added.
He also referred to Obi’s political past, particularly his time with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as evidence of broken promises. Arabambi recalled how Obi once vowed never to leave APGA but eventually defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal disagreements.
“Nobody forced Obi to say he would die in APGA, but he left the party over issues concerning local government elections just months before his tenure ended. Now, he wants Nigerians to believe another political promise? That’s not leadership,” Arabambi said.
The LP chieftain maintained that Nigerians should be cautious in trusting Obi’s new promise, noting that consistency and credibility are key in leadership. He said it would be unwise to base national decisions on a pledge that may not stand the test of time.
Obi’s one-term promise has continued to stir public reactions ahead of the 2027 general elections. While his supporters argue that four years is enough for him to turn the country around, critics like Arabambi believe it is just another political strategy to gain public sympathy.
